Question

some people may think theyve lost their sense of taste if food begins to taste bland or slightly \off.\ but in fact, they may have lost their ability to smell. many things can cause smell loss. a stuffy nose or a harmless growth in the nose (called a polyp) can block air and thus odors from reaching the sensory cells. certain medications, like some antibiotics or blood pressure pills, can alter smell, but these effects are usually temporary. your smell should come back once youve recovered or stopped the medication. but some things can cause a long - lasting loss of smell. a head injury or virus, for example, can sometimes damage the nerves related to smell. and your ability to smell may naturally fade as you get older. how do the fifth and sixth paragraphs work together? they present a popular theory and then explain its origins. they acknowledge a common belief and then explain why it is so popular. they present a popular theory and then offer a less popular one. they discuss a phenomenon and then explore its possible causes.

Explanation:

The fifth - paragraph mentions the phenomenon of people thinking they've lost their sense of taste when it may actually be a loss of smell. The sixth - paragraph lists various possible causes of smell loss such as a stuffy nose, medications, head injury, virus, and aging. So, they discuss a phenomenon and then explore its possible causes.

Answer:

They discuss a phenomenon and then explore its possible causes.