Question

the efficiency of the endocrine system as a whole gradually declines in old age. striking changes in aging women are due to decreasing levels of ( 1 ) hormones, and there is no question that growth hormone output by the anterior pituitary declines, which partially explains muscle atrophy in old age elderly persons are less able to resist ( 2 ) and infection. this decreased resistance may result from overproduction or underproduction of the defensive hormones, because both derail the stress defense ( 3 ) and alter general body metabolism additionally, exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, dioxin, and other soil and water pollutants diminishes endocrine function, which may explain the higher ( 4 ) rates among older adults in certain areas of the country. older people are often mildly hypothyroid. all older people have some decline in insulin production, and type 2 ( 5 ) is most common in this age group. 1 stress 2. equilibrium 3. cancer 4 diabetes 5 female 1 diabetes 2 female 3 stress 4 equilibrium 5 cancer 1 female 2 stress 3 equilibrium 4 cancer 5 diabetes 1 equilibrium 2 cancer 3 diabetes 4 female 5 stress 1 cancer 2 diabetes 3 female 4 stress 5 equilibrium

Explanation:

• For blank 1: "aging women" implies female - related hormones.
• For blank 2: "resist" and the context of endocrine - related issues, "stress" makes sense as the body's stress response is related to endocrine (e.g., cortisol from the adrenal glands).
• For blank 3: "derail the stress defense" - "equilibrium" (the balance of the stress defense system) is affected.
• For blank 4: Exposure to pollutants and endocrine function decline is linked to higher "cancer" rates (as endocrine disruptors can be carcinogenic).
• For blank 5: "decline in insulin production" is associated with "diabetes".

Answer:

1. female 2. stress 3. equilibrium 4. cancer 5. diabetes (corresponding to the third option: 1. female 2. stress 3. equilibrium 4. cancer 5. diabetes)