Question

read the following paragraphs, then answer the questions on the right. after handling contaminated dog food, fourteen people in nine states became ill from salmonella. according to the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc), the people who got sick had given that same contaminated dog food to their pets. at least five people were taken to a hospital, but the incident did not affect any of their dogs. the cause of the illness was salmonella on dog food. what is the evidence that supports the cause of the illness? five people were so sick that they required hospitalization. no dogs were sickened, only people became ill. the people in nine states had used the same dog food.

Explanation:

The text states that people in nine states became ill after handling the same contaminated dog - food. This shows a connection between the dog - food and the illness. The fact that five people were hospitalized is just a consequence of the illness, not evidence of the cause. And the fact that only people and not dogs got sick doesn't directly prove the dog - food as the cause. The shared use of the same dog - food among people in nine states is the evidence for the cause of the illness.

Answer:

The people in nine states had used the same dog food.