Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue whose flexibility and res

Question

Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue whose flexibility and resilience enable it to function as a shock absorber and provide a nearly friction-free environment for the movement of the body's joints. Since cartilage is not vascularized by blood vessels and is not supplied with nerves or lymphatic vessels, cartilage cells, called chondrocytes, receive nourishment from the blood vessels of surrounding connective tissues. Nutrients diffuse through the extracellular matrix secreted by the chondrocytes. Because this system is inefficient, cartilage growth is limited in width.

The extracellular matrix is also responsible for cartilage's resistance to mechanical stress. The alignment and orientation of fibers in the cartilage, as well as the density and composition of fibers in the matrix, determine the degree of elasticity of each type of cartilage. Hyaline cartilage, for example, whose dry weight contains up to 40% type II collagen fibers, is the most common and multifunctional type of cartilage. It is found in the trachea, larynx, ribs, and moveable joints. In contrast, the abundance of elastic fibers in elastic cartilage results in more pliability, hence elastic cartilage can be found in such organs as the epiglottis, a flap of cartilage which moves to cover the windpipe when swallowing. Finally, fibrocartilage's dense, coarse type I fibers allow it to withstand strong tensile forces in the vertebrae.    1 
 1. The purpose of this passage is to

A. demonstrate the relationship between cartilage cells and the extracellular matrix
B. explain cartilage's function as a shock absorber and provider of friction-free environments
C. describe the key components of cartilage and their function
D. prove that cartilage's extracellular matrix is both limiting and beneficial to chondrocytes
E. show how cartilage is a specialized connective tissue

2 
 2. The author mentions that cartilage is not vascularized by blood vessels in order to

A. explain why chondrocytes must get their nutrients from other sources
B. demonstrate that cartilage is specialized
C. show how cartilage is different from other connective tissues
D. give an example of the weakness of chondrocytes
E. provide evidence for cartilage's flexibility and resilience

3 
 3. Which of the following can be concluded about the extracellular matrix?

A. not all types of cartilage contain the same percentage of fibers in their composition
B. the density of fibers determines the resistance of cartilage to stress
C. the fibers realign themselves in response to mechanical stress
D. the extracellular matrix is produced by surrounding connective tissues
E. nothing besides nutrients is allowed to pass through the extracellular matrix

mukherjeeabhish · Answer

3. Which of the following can be concluded about the extracellular matrix?

A. not all types of cartilage contain the same percentage of fibers in their composition
B. the density of fibers determines the resistance of cartilage to stress
C. the fibers realign themselves in response to mechanical stress
D. the extracellular matrix is produced by surrounding connective tissues
E. nothing besides nutrients is allowed to pass through the extracellular matrix

Isn't option A just talks about Cartilage and nothing specific about the Extracellular Matrix ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello mukherjeeabhish

Answer  Choice (A)  seems like a reasonable conclusion because hyaline cartilage is mentioned as having 40% collagen fibers. This is followed by the fact that this is  "in contrast (to) the abundance of elastic fibers in elastic cartilage."  It must be true that not all types of cartilage contain the same percentage of fibers, and  (A)  is correct. However, another way to approach an inference question is to eliminate the choices that don't have to be correct based on the facts in the passage.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. Which of the following can be concluded about the extracellular matrix?

Analyze the Question Stem:

The words  "can be concluded"  make this an Inference question. So the right answer MUST be true based on the passage, but won't necessarily be mentioned explicitly.

Research Relevant Text in the Passage:

The question stem does not reference any particular detail, so there's nothing to research ahead of time. We'll have to research as we evaluate each answer.

Make a Prediction:

As is true of many inference questions, the only thing we can predict is that four of these answers won't be necessarily true based on the passage, and one will be.

Evaluate the Answer Choices:

Answer  Choice (A)  seems like a reasonable conclusion because hyaline cartilage is mentioned as having 40% collagen fibers. This is followed by the fact that this is  "in contrast (to) the abundance of elastic fibers in elastic cartilage."  It must be true that not all types of cartilage contain the same percentage of fibers, and  (A)  is correct. However, another way to approach an inference question is to eliminate the choices that don't have to be correct based on the facts in the passage.

Choice (B)  is a misused detail from the passage. Though the density of fibers is mentioned, the connection is not made to how much resistance the cartilage has – resistance to stress is only mentioned as related to the extracellular matrix.

Choice (C)  goes beyond the scope of the passage: the response to stress is not discussed in the passage, and there is no mention of realignment

Choice (D)  is directly contradicted by the end of the first paragraph, which states that chondrocytes secrete the extracellular matrix.

And  choice (E)  is extreme. Though nutrients do pass through the matrix, it is extreme to conclude that nothing else does. We have now eliminated all choices but  (A) , which must be correct.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The author mentions that cartilage is not vascularized by blood vessels in order to

Explanation

Topic:  Cartilage

Scope:  Components and different types of cartilage

Purpose:  Describe the composition of various types of cartilage and the function of its parts

Passage Map:

Paragraph 1:  Introduces cartilage and describes how cartilage cells receive nutrients from the matrix

Paragraph 2:  The matrix also makes cartilage elastic; various degrees of elasticity

Analyze the Question Stem:

Do not be misled by the words "The author mentions" at the beginning. The words "in order to" at the end of the question stem tell us this is a Logic question, which requires us to determine why the author mentions a particular detail.

Research Relevant Text in the Passage:

For questions about details in the passage, use your Passage Map to locate the relevant section of the passage to research. The question stem points us to the first paragraph, so that's where we do our research.

Make a Prediction:

This question refers to the second sentence, which begins by mentioning that cartilage is not directly supplied with blood vessels. This explains why cartilage cells would need to get nutrients from surrounding connective tissue, which is what "other sources" in the answer choice refers to.

Evaluate the Answer Choices:

Our prediction is best reflected in  Answer Choice (A).

Choice (B)  is a misused detail. Though the previous sentence mentions that cartilage is a specialized tissue, this is not related to the point made in the second sentence.

Choice (C)  is out of scope. The passage does not discuss how cartilage is different from other connective tissues.

Choice (D)  is extreme. Although the author states that the growth of cartilage is limited, he or she does not say that chondrocytes are weak.

Choice (E)  also misuses a detail. The vascularization (or lack thereof) of cartilage cells is related to how it gets nutrients, not to these properties of cartilage.

Answer: A

Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue whose flexibility and res

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue whose flexibility and res

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards