Among the several hundred million cells that comprise the wondrously

Question

Among the several hundred million cells that comprise the wondrously complex human body, and thus to be theoretically detectable in lab tests and in electron photomicrographs, a tiny fraction, no more than a few hundred, belong to a curious subclass whose luminescence has a wavelength distribution so unique that it long defied explanation. Such systems luminisce strongly in the visible region of the spectrum, but some of them do so even more strongly at both shorter and longer wavelengths: in the ultraviolet region and in the infrared regions.

This odd distribution of luminescence is best explained by the pairing of a giant red blood cell and an intensely small white blood cell that is virtually in contact with its larger companion as the two travel around a common center. Such objects have become known as Clinging cells. On photographic plates only the giant cell can be discerned, but evidence for the existence of the tiny companion has now been supplied by magnifying instruments capable of detecting ultraviolet luminescence at wavelengths that are absorbed by the body's heat and therefore cannot be detected by typical analytical instruments.

The spectra of Clinging cells indicate that the giant red blood cell is surrounded by very thin lipid filaments. The existence of the lipid filaments marked such objects as being unique several decades before clinical observations finally identified the lipid as  the luminescence  from the tiny companion white blood cell. Clinging cells also flare up in outbursts indicating the ejection of material in the form of a shell or a ring, reminiscent of the recurrent circulation of hormonal cells. Clinging cells may therefore represent a transitory phase in the evolution of certain types of hormonal systems in which there is a substantial transfer of matter from the larger partner to the smaller.

The exact evolutionary course that turns a typical blood cell system into a clinging one is a matter of conjecture. The comparatively small number of known Clinging cells in our bodies suggests that if all binaries of modest mass normally pass through a clinging phase in their evolution, the phase  must be extremely brief , perhaps as short as a millisecond.    1 
 1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) demonstrate that most hormonal systems were at one time clinging
(B) dismiss current knowledge of Clinging cells as overly speculative
(C) describe Clinging cells as a distinct type of cell system
(D) present evidence that hormonal systems are formed from tiny white blood cells
(E) compare characteristics of giant red blood cells and tiny white blood cells

2 
 2. The passage implies that Clinging cell systems differ from other hormonal systems in that the former

(A) display luminescence patterns different from those of most hormonal systems
(B) contain two cells that revolve around a common center
(C) possess far greater mass than other hormonal systems
(D) are more common in our bodies than other hormonal systems
(E) are the only hormonal systems that can be detected by electron microscopes

3 
 3. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about " the luminescence " mentioned in the passage?

(A) It causes certain large red blood cells to appear tiny to observers.
(B) It was incorrectly associated with hormonal cells in our bodies.
(C) It interferes with the clarity of photographs of most hormonal systems.
(D) It corresponds to the visible region of the light spectrum.
(E) It could not be positively identified from photomicrograph observations.

4 
 4. According to the passage, the exchange of matter within a Clinging cell system is believed to be a process in which

(A) cell grows in mass at the expense of the other
(B) the mass of each cell remains fairly stable
(C) the mass of both cells declines
(D) both cells absorb matter emitted by other nearby cells
(E) both cells gradually return to an earlier singular state

5 
 5. The assumption that the Clinging cell phase in the evolution of some hormonal systems " must be extremely brief  " is most likely based on the fact that

(A) hormones are rapidly ejected from clinging systems
(B) few Clinging cells have been detected in our bodies
(C) the cells in a clinging pair are in close proximity to each other
(D) Clinging cells vary considerably in size from one another
(E) the outbursts of Clinging cells resemble those of hormonal cells

Source: IvyLeague admission GMAT RC

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. The passage implies that Clinging cell systems differ from other hormonal systems in that the former

Explanation

Only options A and B are able to stand here, below are the lines that lead to the answer A

This odd distribution of luminescence is best explained by the pairing of a giant red blood cell and an intensely small white blood cell that is virtually in contact with its larger companion as the two travel around a common center. Such objects have become known as Clinging cells.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about "the luminescence" mentioned in the passage?

Explanation

The lines to the answer of question are:

The spectra of Clinging cells indicate that the giant red blood cell is surrounded by very thin lipid filaments. The existence of the lipid filaments marked such objects as being unique  several decades before clinical observations finally identified the lipid as the luminescence  from the tiny companion white blood cell.

Answer: E

5. The assumption that the Clinging cell phase in the evolution of some hormonal systems "must be extremely brief " is most likely based on the fact that

Explanation

This is a comparatively straightforward question but to answer it easily one must have the text on paragraph 1 in his/her mind. First read a few lines given below from paragraph 1.

Among the several hundred million cells that comprise the wondrously complex human body, and thus to be theoretically detectable in lab tests and in electron photomicrographs, a tiny fraction, no more than a few hundred, belong to a curious subclass whose luminescence has a wavelength distribution so unique that it long defied explanation. Such systems luminesce strongly in the  visible region of the spectrum

Now read the lines below from the last paragraph

The comparatively small number of known Clinging cells in our bodies suggests that if all binaries of modest mass normally pass through a clinging phase in their evolution, the phase must be extremely brief, perhaps as short as a millisecond.

Pieces of the text of both paragraphs above show that the Clinging cell only shows up in the visible region of the spectrum and that spectrum is very short and that is why we can see only a limited number of clinging cell.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. According to the passage, the exchange of matter within a Clinging cell system is believed to be a process in which

Explanation

First know what is the clinging cell according to the passage?

"This odd distribution of luminescence is best explained by the  pairing of a giant red blood cell and an intensely small white blood cell that is virtually in contact with its larger companion as the two travel around a common center.  Such objects have become known as Clinging cells."

Then know what is working of the clinging cell according to the passage?

"Clinging cells also flare up in outbursts indicating the ejection of material in the form of a shell or a ring, reminiscent of the recurrent circulation of hormonal cells. Clinging cells may therefore represent a transitory phase in the evolution of certain types of hormonal systems in which there is a substantial transfer of matter from the larger partner to the smaller."

Let's see the answer choices

(A) the cell grows in mass at the expense of the other

Keep it

(B) the mass of each cell remains  fairly stable

Nothing can be found in the passage or the above-quoted text as such

(C) the mass of both cells  declines

(D) both cells absorb matter emitted by other  nearby cells

Out of context

(E) both cells  gradually return to an earlier singular state

Out of context

Only A can be deducted from the text of the passage.

Answer: A

PyjamaScientist · Answer

Dear  Sajjad1994 
With due respect, I don't see how  "substantial transfer of matter from the larger partner to the smaller"  can indicate the growth of the cell as a whole. As the bigger and the smaller cell both make a part of a cell. If the matter goes from one to another, the total volume still remains to be the same. Why would the cell's size increase?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

There could be possible a typo in answer option A it should read as:

(A)  one  cell grows in mass at the expense of the other

instead of

(A) cell grows in mass at the expense of the other

Everything else looks fine.

BruhPoseidon · Answer

I don't get how we got to option A in Question 2. Could anyone explain?

guddo · Answer

2. The passage implies that Clinging cell systems differ from other hormonal systems in that the former

The passage emphasizes that Clinging cells have a highly unusual  luminescence pattern , with strong emissions not only in the visible region but also in the ultraviolet and infrared regions. This unusual spectral pattern is what initially distinguished them from other systems.

(A) display luminescence patterns different from those of most hormonal systems

Correct.   The passage describes the wavelength distribution of Clinging cells as “so unique that it long defied explanation.” This directly indicates that their luminescence pattern differs from that of most other systems.

(B) contain two cells that revolve around a common center

Incorrect. The passage describes the two-cell structure of Clinging systems, but this does not establish that such orbital pairing distinguishes them from other hormonal systems.

(C) possess far greater mass than other hormonal systems

Incorrect. No such comparison of mass is given.

(D) are more common in our bodies than other hormonal systems

Incorrect. The passage actually says that only a very small number of Clinging cells are known.

(E) are the only hormonal systems that can be detected by electron microscopes

Incorrect. The passage does not say that only Clinging systems can be detected this way.

Answer: (A)

Among the several hundred million cells that comprise the wondrously

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Among the several hundred million cells that comprise the wondrously

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