A student hypothesizes that higher sugar consumption negatively impacts test scores. To investigate this, the student recruits participants to consume varying amounts of sugar, wait for one hour, and then complete an aptitude test. The student will record both the amount of sugar consumed and the test scores to analyze the relationship. What is the best experimental approach?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C provides the most thorough experimental design by including a control group. In the first round, varying sugar intake levels help explore the relationship between sugar consumption and test scores. In the second round, by having participants consume no sugar, the student can compare results to observe any changes due to sugar intake. This approach enhances the validity of the findings by accounting for potential confounding factors and better identifying causal relationships. Choice A is not ideal as it lacks a control group and does not compare the impact of sugar consumption. Choice B does not explore the effects of sugar consumption adequately as it does not include a group without sugar. Choice D does not allow for comparison between different sugar consumption levels, limiting the ability to draw meaningful conclusions.