According to a survey in the U.S. in the 1990s, people in their 40s reported more lifetime sex partners than did people in their 50s. Which of these is the most likely explanation?


a) People in their 50s were starting to lose their memory.

b) People in their 40s had been young during a different era.

c) Many of the people in their 40s had immigrated to the U.S. from other countries.

d) This must have been a longitudinal research study.

b is my answer

Yes, b.

To determine which option is the most likely explanation for the survey results, we can analyze each answer choice:

a) "People in their 50s were starting to lose their memory" - This explanation is speculative and not supported by any evidence. Memory loss is not a likely reason for the difference in reported lifetime sex partners.
b) "People in their 40s had been young during a different era" - This explanation suggests that cultural or societal factors specific to the time when people in their 40s were young might have influenced their reported number of sex partners differently compared to people in their 50s. For example, different attitudes towards sexuality or societal norms could have played a role.
c) "Many of the people in their 40s had immigrated to the U.S. from other countries" - This explanation suggests that the population of people in their 40s might include a higher percentage of individuals from countries with different cultural norms or sociopolitical conditions regarding reporting sexual history. This could contribute to a higher reported number of sex partners.
d) "This must have been a longitudinal research study" - This option is not a likely explanation for the difference. Longitudinal research refers to studying the same group of individuals over an extended period. However, this question does not provide any information to suggest if the survey was longitudinal or not.

Among the given options, b) seems to be the most plausible explanation as it takes into account the influence of historical factors and changing societal attitudes towards sex during different eras. However, it is important to note that this answer is speculative, and without further information, it is difficult to determine the exact reasons behind the survey results.