You and a friend are in line for a movie when you notice the woman in front of you sneezing and coughing. Both of you have been equally exposed to the woman's virus, but over the next few days, only your friend acquires flu- like symptoms and is ill for almost a week before recovering. Which one of the following is a logical explanation for this?
A) You have an innate immunity to that virus.
B) You have an acquired immunity to that virus.
C) Your friend does not have the ability to fight off that particular virus.
D) Answers B and C are both correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is likely that you have been previously exposed to the virus and your immune system has developed antibodies to fight against it, providing a level of protection. This is known as acquired immunity. Your friend, on the other hand, may not have been exposed to the virus before or may have a weaker immune system that was unable to fight off the virus effectively, leading to them becoming ill. Option A is incorrect because innate immunity is not specific to a particular virus and would not explain the difference in response between you and your friend. Option C is also incorrect since it implies that your friend lacks the ability to fight off the virus entirely, which is unlikely. Option D is incorrect because option C is not a valid explanation for the difference in response.

You and a Friend Are in Line for a Movie