Humans perceive sound as a result of vibrations affecting

Question

Humans perceive sound as a result of vibrations affecting hair cells within the inner ear. When the hair cells are stimulated, they send signals through nerves to the brain. Loss of these hair cells is a common cause of deafness. Experimental results have shown that treatments designed to cause new hair cells to grow are effective. Therefore, it is now possible to reverse deafness in a number of cases.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

1) Hair cells are regenerated through a process that delivers gene-altering viruses into the ear.
2) Some nonhuman animals continually regenerate hair cells naturally
3) There are other conditions that lead to deafness that have nothing to do with hair cells.
4) Regenerated hair cells were also found to grow new attachments to nerves
5) Additional hair cells in patients who still hearing could lead hearing improvements.

qhoc0010 · Answer

Man, this question was so familiar but I couldn't find it any where. Look like if it was the one on my test.

(4) should be the answer.

Where did you find this question?

ywilfred · Answer

4) Regenerated hair cells were also found to grow new attachments to nerves 
This is the answer that holds up the argument. In order for the new hair cells to work, they must sill be able to stimulate the nerves.

vprabhala · Answer

4. From where is this question. I haven't see any book which gives it's answer choices from 1 to5 and not A to E..

kapslock · Answer

When seen in the light of the assertion that "common cause of deafness is loss of hair cells" and the conclusion that "it is now possible to reverse deafness in a number of cases", I think 4 should not be an option since though the statement describes the role of nerves in hearing process, it does not describe its loss/damage as a fairly probable cause of deafness.

If we take this hair loss as the common cause of deafness (of which a cure would cure deafness in a number of cases) we might find options that specify cures hair loss as fairly appropriate answers.

For example, (1) directly leads to the cure of the hair loss.
(2) gives optimism that we can develop a cure by studying the animals which grow these hair all the time.
(3) doesn't strengthen the argument - it talks abt deafness due to reasons other than hair loss.
(4) talks not about regenerating hair cells, but regenerating producing nerve endings as well. This is fairly attractive option, but less than 1.
(5) doesn't talk abt deafness, but abt hearing improvement - and strengthening the assertion that hair cells are vital to hearing.

Any other reasoning on this?

Can the OA be posted now please?

rthothad · Answer

We are trying to strengthen the conclusion and not the premises, so will go with '4'

scorer · Answer

OA is '4' or 'D'

qhoc0010 --> I found this question in one of the perterson's tests.

scorer · Answer

I have to type the question as I couldn't copy/paste it. My bad, i wrote 1 to 5 rather than A to E

qhoc0010 · Answer

Oh, never mind. After I did more than a thousand problems, every question looks familiar. :lol:

ywilfred · Answer

<img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/1f602.png" class="forumSmileyItem" width="20" height="20" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing" />

Humans perceive sound as a result of vibrations affecting

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