ankur55 wrote:
The chemical adenosine is released by brain cells when those cells are active. Adenosine then binds to more and more sites on cells in certain areas of the brain, as the total amount released gradually increases during wakefulness. During sleep, the number of sites to which adenosine is bound decreases. Some researchers have hypothesized that it is the cumulative binding of adenosine to a large number of sites that causes the onset of sleep.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the researchers’ hypothesis?
(A) Even after long periods of sleep when adenosine is at its lowest concentration in the brain, the number of brain cells bound with adenosine remains very large.
(B) Caffeine, which has the effect of making people remain wakeful, is known to interfere with the binding of adenosine to sites on brain cells.
(C) Besides binding to sites in the brain, adenosine is known to be involved in biochemical reactions throughout the body.
(D) Some areas of the brain that are relatively inactive nonetheless release some adenosine.
(E) Stress resulting from a dangerous situation can preserve wakefulness even when brain levels of bound adenosine are high.
CR05750
Argument Evaluation
Situation
Adenosine is released from brain cells that are active. The amount of adenosine released increases during wakefulness, and it binds to more and more sites on cells in certain brain locations. The number of sites to which it is bound decreases during sleep. Researchers have hypothesized that the cumulative binding of adenosine to many sites causes the onset of sleep.
Reasoning
Which of the five pieces of information most strongly supports the hypothesis? If the hypothesis is correct, then some factor that impedes the binding of adenosine should be closely associated with wakefulness. Therefore, finding some such factor, and observing that it is accompanied by wakefulness when the factor operates, would tend to confirm the hypothesis.
(A) Without further, more specific information, this piece of information suffices neither to confirm nor to refute the hypothesis.
(B) Correct. A finding that caffeine, known to induce wakefulness, inhibits adenosine from binding to sites on brain cells helps confirm the hypothesis.
(C) This piece of information lacks a clear relevance to the hypothesized impact on sleep, and therefore does not help confirm the hypothesis.
(D) This information lacks a clear relevance to the hypothesized impact on sleep, and therefore does not help confirm the hypothesis.
(E) What this indicates is that stress may impede the hypothesized sleep-inducing effect of adenosine. It does not refute the hypothesis but does not confirm it either.
My 2 cents on this question:
Premise : The chemical adenosine is released by brain cells when those cells are active. Adenosine then binds to more and more sites on cells in certain areas of the brain, as the total amount released gradually increases during wakefulness. During sleep, the number of sites to which adenosine is bound decreases.
Conclusion : 'the cumulative binding of adenosine to a large number of sites'(A) that causes 'the onset of sleep'(B)
Given we have a causal argument here, the standard assumptions are:
1) There are no other reasons
2) It's not a coincidence.
Now, the question asks us to strengthen the conclusion, so our answer should do the following things:
1) Offer evidence to show that it is not a coincidence.
2) Get rid of other factors that might cause B
3) Provide examples of the cause being present and the effect following. If A happens, then B happens.
4) Show that if A does not happen then B also does not happen.
Now, coming to the options
(A) Even after long periods of sleep when adenosine is at its lowest concentration in the brain, the number of brain cells bound with adenosine remains very large. - Out of scope. Keep the predicted answer in your mind.
(B) Caffeine, which has the effect of making people remain wakeful, is known to interfere with the binding of adenosine to sites on brain cells. - Bingo, this is in line with the 4th strengthener that we discussed. If Caffeine is in the system, a person remains wakeful(B is not happening i.e. the effect is not happening). Why is the effect not happening because the cause i.e. 'increased cumulative binding' is not happening because of the caffeine. This is also a classic example of contrapositive. If not B -> not A
(C) Besides binding to sites in the brain, adenosine is known to be involved in biochemical reactions throughout the body. - Irrelevant
(D) Some areas of the brain that are relatively inactive nonetheless release some adenosine. - Irrelevant
(E) Stress resulting from a dangerous situation can preserve wakefulness even when brain levels of bound adenosine are high. - Irrelevant
Hope it helps