Soda Ban
Cigarettes. Alcohol. Drugs. Most people agree that these things should be kept away from children and only consumed by adults in limited quantities, if at all. Is the same thing true for soda?
A 20-ounce-bottle of soda has over sixteen teaspoons of sugar in it. This is twice the amount of sugar that the American Heart Association recommends a person should eat in an entire day. Furthermore, this 20-ounce bottle of soda delivers over 200 calories and no nutritive value; soda contains no vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, or other nutrients.
Drinking sodas and other sugary beverages can cause serious health problems. Consuming too many of these sugar-filled beverages may increase your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, tooth decay, and certain kinds of cancer. Studies have also shown that people who drink soda tend to develop a condition known as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, high levels of triglycerides, and low levels of HDL cholesterol (commonly referred to as "good cholesterol").
Some places have already taken steps to reduce the amount of soda people consume. In California, for example, cafeterias and vending machines in grade schools can not sell soda. The city of Philadelphia also recently added a tax on sugary beverages, making sodas more expensive to purchase.
Soda may taste good, but it is terrible for your health. There should be more bans and taxes to keep people from drinking these harmful beverages.
What is the meaning of the word 'decay', as in 'tooth decay', found in paragraph 3?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the passage, sugary drinks are described as increasing one's risk for tooth decay. The meaning of 'decay' is most similar to 'deterioration', as the tooth tends to deteriorate (or decay). Therefore, this option is correct.
A growth
Incorrect. In the passage, sugary drinks are described as increasing one's risk for tooth decay. The meaning of 'decay' is most similar to 'deterioration', as the tooth tends to deteriorate (or decay). A 'growth' provides the opposite meaning in this case, as it suggests that something has been added onto the tooth.
A bacterial culture 
Incorrect. In the passage, sugary drinks are described as increasing one's risk for tooth decay. The meaning of 'decay' is most similar to 'deterioration', as the tooth tends to deteriorate (or decay). A 'bacterial culture' is incorrect in this case, as it has nothing to do with something that decays.
A medical problem
Incorrect. In the passage, sugary drinks are described as increasing one's risk for tooth decay. The meaning of 'decay' is most similar to 'deterioration', as the tooth tends to deteriorate (or decay). 'A medical problem' is a general way to describe a tooth decay, but it is not the correct meaning of the problem itself.

Soda Ban Cigarettes. Alcohol. Drugs. Most People Agree That These Things Should