Discussions of how hormones influence behavior have generally been lim

Question

Discussions of how hormones influence behavior
have generally been limited to the effects of gonadal
hormones on reproductive behavior and have
emphasized the parsimonious arrangement whereby the
  (5)   same hormones involved in the biology of reproduction
also influence sexual behavior. It has now become
clear, however, that other hormones, in addition to their
recognized influence on biological functions, can affect
behavior. Specifically, peptide and steroid hormones
  (10)   involved in maintaining the physiological balance, or
homeostasis, of body fluids also appear to play an
important role in the control of water and salt
consumption. The phenomenon of homeostasis in
animals depends on various mechanisms that promote
  (15)   stability within the organism despite an inconstant
external environment; the homeostasis of body fluids,
whereby the osmolality (the concentration of solutes)
of blood plasma is closely regulated, is achieved
primarily through alterations in the intake and
  (20)   excretion of water and sodium, the two principal
components of the fluid matrix that surrounds body
cells. Appropriate compensatory responses are initiated
when deviations from normal are quite small, thereby
maintaining plasma osmolality within relatively narrow
  (25)   ranges.

In the osmoregulation of body fluids, the
movement of water across cell membranes permits
minor fluctuations in the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid to be buffered by corresponding
  (30)   changes in the relatively larger volume of cellular
water. Nevertheless, the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid may at times become elevated or
reduced by more than the allowed tolerances of one or
two percent. It is then that complementary
  (35)   physiological and behavioral responses come into play
to restore plasma osmolality to normal. Thus, for
example, a decrease in plasma osmolality, such as that
which occurs after the consumption of water in excess
of need, leads to the excretion of surplus body water in
  (40)   the urine by inhibiting secretion from the pituitary
gland of vasopressin, a peptide hormone that promotes
water conservation in the kidneys. As might be
expected, thirst also is inhibited then, to prevent further
dilution of body fluids. Conversely, an increase in
  (45)   plasma osmolality, such as that which occurs after one
eats salty foods or after body water evaporates without
being replaced, stimulates the release of vasopressin,
increasing the conservation of water and the excretion
of solutes in urine. This process is accompanied by
  (50)   increased thirst, with the result of making plasma
osmolality more dilute through the consumption of
water. The threshold for thirst appears to be slightly
higher than for vasopressin secretion, so that thirst is
stimulated only after vasopressin has been released in
  (55)   amounts sufficient to produce maximal water retention
by the kidneys—that is, only after osmotic dehydration
exceeds the capacity of the animal to deal with it
physiologically.    1 
 1. Which one of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) Both the solute concentration and the volume of an animal’s blood plasma must be kept within relatively narrow ranges.
(B) Behavioral responses to changes in an animal’s blood plasma can compensate for physiological malfunction, allowing the body to avoid dehydration.
(C) The effect of hormones on animal behavior and physiology has only recently been discovered.
(D) Behavioral and physiological responses to major changes in osmolality of an animal’s blood plasma are hormonally influenced and complement one another.
(E) The mechanisms regulating reproduction are similar to those that regulate thirst and sodium appetite.

2 
 2. The author of the passage cites the relationship between gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in order to

(A) review briefly the history of research into the relationships between gonadal and peptide hormones that has led to the present discussion
(B) decry the fact that previous research has concentrated on the relatively minor issue of the relationships between hormones and behavior
(C) establish the emphasis of earlier research into the connections between hormones and behavior before elaborating on the results described in the passage
(D) introduce a commonly held misconception about the relationships between hormones and behavior before refuting it with the results described in the passage
(E) summarize the main findings of recent research described in the passage before detailing the various procedures that led to those findings

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that which one of the following is true of vasopressin?

(A) The amount secreted depends on the level of steroid hormones in the blood.
(B) The amount secreted is important for maintaining homeostasis in cases of both increased and decreased osmolality.
(C) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in increasing plasma volume.
(D) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in regulating sodium appetite.
(E) It is secreted after an animal becomes thirsty, as a mechanism for diluting plasma osmolality.

4 
 4. The primary function of the passage as a whole is to

(A) present new information
(B) question standard assumptions
(C) reinterpret earlier findings
(D) advocate a novel theory
(E) outline a new approach

5 
 5. According to the passage, all of the following typically occur in the homeostasis of blood-plasma osmolality EXCEPT:

(A) Hunger is diminished.
(B) Thirst is initiated.
(C) Vasopressin is secreted.
(D) Water is excreted.
(E) Sodium is consumed.

6 
 6. According to the passage, the withholding of vasopressin fulfills which one of the following functions in the restoration of plasma osmolality to normal levels?

(A) It increases thirst and stimulates sodium appetite.
(B) It helps prevent further dilution of body fluids.
(C) It increases the conservation of water in the kidneys.
(D) It causes minor changes in plasma volume.
(E) It helps stimulate the secretion of steroid hormones.

Source:   LSAT Official PrepTest 36   
 Difficulty Level:   650

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 231 Date: 11-Jun-2021
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2021 .  Click here for Details

sumitkrocks · Answer

1. Which one of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

Central point of the author in the entire passage is to first introduce that its not only gonadal hormones that plays role in regulating behavior. There are other hormones that influence and regulate physiological responses other than sexual behavior.

Option D is the best that captures the intent of writing the passage

(A) Both the solute concentration and the volume of an animal’s blood plasma must be kept within relatively narrow ranges.
(B) Behavioral responses to changes in an animal’s blood plasma can compensate for physiological malfunction, allowing the body to avoid dehydration.
(C) The effect of hormones on animal behavior and physiology has only recently been discovered.
 (D) Behavioral and physiological responses to major changes in osmolality of an animal’s blood plasma are hormonally influenced and complement one another. 
(E) The mechanisms regulating reproduction are similar to those that regulate thirst and sodium appetite.

2. The author of the passage cites the relationship between gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in order to

In very early author starts the passage by introducing the limitation of earlier study by presenting that the studies/research were limited to the influence of gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior; However, now there has been some evidences that hormones play variety of other roles.

C is the right option in my view as per the passage

(A) review briefly the history of research into the relationships between gonadal and peptide hormones that has led to the present discussion
(B) decry the fact that previous research has concentrated on the relatively minor issue of the relationships between hormones and behavior
 (C) establish the emphasis of earlier research into the connections between hormones and behavior before elaborating on the results described in the passage 
(D) introduce a commonly held misconception about the relationships between hormones and behavior before refuting it with the results described in the passage
(E) summarize the main findings of recent research described in the passage before detailing the various procedures that led to those findings

3. It can be inferred from the passage that which one of the following is true of vasopressin?

Author presents the situations how vasopressin responds to both extreme conditions in regulating the correct osmolality.
 B is the right answer

(A) The amount secreted depends on the level of steroid hormones in the blood.
 (B) The amount secreted is important for maintaining homeostasis in cases of both increased and decreased osmolality. 
(C) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in increasing plasma volume.
(D) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in regulating sodium appetite.
(E) It is secreted after an animal becomes thirsty, as a mechanism for diluting plasma osmolality.

4. The primary function of the passage as a whole is to

Function of the passage is to present the information regarding studies that present variety of other roles of hormones on behavior and other psychological functions other than sexual behavior.

A is the right answer

(A) present new information 
(B) question standard assumptions
(C) reinterpret earlier findings
(D) advocate a novel theory
(E) outline a new approach

5. According to the passage, all of the following typically occur in the homeostasis of blood-plasma osmolality EXCEPT:

Nothing is discussed regarding hunger, so we can’t imply anything about option A
A is the right answer

(A) Hunger is diminished. 
(B) Thirst is initiated.
(C) Vasopressin is secreted.
(D) Water is excreted.
(E) Sodium is consumed.

6. According to the passage, the withholding of vasopressin fulfills which one of the following functions in the restoration of plasma osmolality to normal levels?e

Refer: Excerpt-" It is then that complementary
(35) physiological and behavioral responses come into play
to restore plasma osmolality to normal. Thus, for
example, a decrease in plasma osmolality, such as that
which occurs after the consumption of water in excess
of need, leads to the excretion of surplus body water in
(40) the urine by inhibiting secretion from the pituitary
gland of vasopressin, a peptide hormone that promotes
water conservation in the kidneys. As might be
expected, thirst also is inhibited then, to prevent further
dilution of body fluids".

B is the right answer

(A) It increases thirst and stimulates sodium appetite.
 (B) It helps prevent further dilution of body fluids. 
(C) It increases the conservation of water in the kidneys.
(D) It causes minor changes in plasma volume.
(E) It helps stimulate the secretion of steroid hormones.

Aannie · Answer

GMATNinja  please give a detailed explanation of Q3

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. It can be inferred from the passage that which one of the following is true of vasopressin?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Since vasopressin is inhibited or stimulated depending on whether osmolality is lower or higher, respectively, and since the whole process begins whenever homeostasis is threatened,  (B)  is readily inferable.

(A), (C),  and  (D)  all mention steroid hormones, which are only mentioned in passing back at  line 9.  Vasopressin is a peptide hormone  (line 41) , that we know; whether vasopressin also qualifies as a steroid, or works with a steroid, goes unmentioned in the text, so all three choices should be rejected promptly.

(E)  gets a key relationship backward, cf.  lines 53-54: “thirst is stimulated only after vasopressin has been released…”

Answer: B

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 3 
 
Let's start by considering the question, then take the answer choices one by one:

In the second paragraph, we learn that a "decrease in plasma osmolality" leads to "secretion...of vasopressin, a peptide hormone..." Thus, vasopressin is secreted when there is a " decrease in plasma osmolality ." Since the level of steroid hormones in the blood has nothing to do with the secretion of vasopressin, (A) is out.

We already know that a "decrease in plasma osmolality" leads to secretion of vasopressin. Further on in the second paragraph, we learn that "an increase in plasma osmolality...stimulates the release of vasopressin." So both  increased  AND  decreased  osmolality cause vasopressin to be secreted. Let's hold on to (B).

Steroid hormones  are mentioned in the first paragraph as an example of a hormone that can affect homeostasis. However,  steroid hormones  are not mentioned again, so we can't conclude that they work "in conjunction with vasopressin." (C) is out.

Using the same reasoning as we do for answer choice (C), we can eliminate (D).

At the end of the second paragraph, we learn that "thirst is stimulated only AFTER vasopressin has been released." So first an animal secretes vasopressin, and then they become thirsty.

But (E) has this backwards -- it claims that vasopressin is secreted AFTER an animal becomes thirsty. So (E) is out, and we're left with (B).

I hope that helps!

VerbalBot · Answer

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