Teenagers are stronger and more resilient than children, yet their mor

Question

Teenagers are stronger and more resilient than children, yet their mortality rate nearly doubles during adolescence. This contradiction has puzzled scientists and parents alike. One common explanation is that teenagers are simply reckless or lack good judgment. However, studies show that teenagers are about as capable as adults at recognizing the risks of dangerous behavior.

If teenagers understand risks, why are they still more likely to engage in harmful or impulsive actions?

If teenagers understand risks, why are they still more likely to engage in harmful or impulsive actions?Some of the clearest insight into adolescent behavior comes from observing rats. Around seven weeks after birth, rats reach puberty and begin to behave in ways strikingly similar to human teenagers: they spend less time with their parents, seek out new experiences, and become more curious and exploratory.

In one study, adolescent rats were willing to work much harder than both younger and older rats to obtain a sweet reward, pressing a lever dozens of times for each drop. This increase in effort suggests that, during adolescence, the perceived value of rewards rises sharply. Similar behavioral shifts across species indicate that the changes seen in teenagers are rooted more in biological and genetic factors, not just social or cultural ones.Research shows that teenage brains process rewards more intensely than those of children or adults. The brain’s reward system is especially active during adolescence, which can make short-term gains feel more compelling and drive impulsive choices — even when risks are understood.

Meanwhile, the brain’s cognitive control network, which helps resist short-term temptations in favor of long-term goals, develops slowly and becomes more efficient with age. In children, this system is active but immature; in adults, it works with less effort. Teenagers fall in the middle — the control system is present but often overpowered by reward signals.

This imbalance helps explain why adolescence is a time of increased risk-taking. In some cases, especially when cognitive control is weakened by genes, environment, or experience, teenagers may be more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, addiction, or other psychological disorders. Even teens with strong self-regulation may still act on emotion rather than reason in high-reward situations.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Solution:

Similar patterns of adolescent behavior across species suggest that such changes are more strongly influenced by natural factors than by environment.

• Tab 2 states that adolescent rats display behaviors similar to those of human teenagers, and it concludes that such consistent patterns across species indicate the changes are rooted more in biological and genetic factors than in social or cultural ones. Thus, this statement is true.

Teenagers’ risk assessment ability is significantly lower than that of children when evaluating the consequences of their actions.

• Tab 1 states that teenagers are about as capable as adults at recognizing risks, and it does not suggest that children surpass teenagers in this ability. Thus, this statement is not true.

Although children are physically weaker and more susceptible to disease than teenagers, their mortality rate is roughly half that of adolescents.

• Tab 1 states that teenagers are stronger and more resilient than children, yet their mortality rate nearly doubles during adolescence. Thus, this statement is true.

Correct answer:

Similar patterns of adolescent behavior across species suggest that such changes are more strongly influenced by natural factors than by environment.  "True"

Teenagers’ risk assessment ability is significantly lower than that of children when evaluating the consequences of their actions.  "Not True"

Although children are physically weaker and more susceptible to disease than teenagers, their mortality rate is roughly half that of adolescents.  "True"

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

The reward system and the cognitive control network do not follow the same developmental pattern over time in humans.

• Tab 3 states that the brain’s reward system is especially active during adolescence, while the cognitive control network develops gradually and becomes more efficient with age. Since these two systems follow different trajectories, this statement can be inferred.

Psychological disorders in teenagers are primarily caused by weak cognitive control.

• Tab 3 states that weakened cognitive control may contribute to psychological disorders in some teenagers, but it does not identify it as the primary cause. Thus, this statement cannot be inferred.

The extent of imbalance between the reward system and the cognitive control network during adolescence is uniform between genders.

• None of the tabs mention any differences or similarities between genders in the development of the reward system or the cognitive control network. Since the extent of this imbalance is never discussed in relation to gender, this statement cannot be inferred.

Correct answer:

The reward system and the cognitive control network do not follow the same developmental pattern over time in humans.  "Can be inferred"

Psychological disorders in teenagers are primarily caused by weak cognitive control.  "Cannot be inferred"

The extent of imbalance between the reward system and the cognitive control network during adolescence is uniform between genders.  "Cannot be inferred"

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

Teenagers tend to act on short-term emotional impulses even when they are aware of potential risks.

• Tab 3 states that teenagers may act on emotion rather than reason in high-reward situations, even when they understand the risks involved. Thus, this statement is supported.

The brain’s reward system is especially active during adolescence, leading to an increased tendency for impulsive decisions.

• Tab 3 states that the reward system is especially active in teenagers and that this drives impulsive behavior. Thus, this statement is supported.

Weakened impulse control caused by external or inherited factors can increase the likelihood of mental health issues in teenagers.

• Tab 3 explains that teenagers with weaker impulse control due to environmental or genetic influences may be more prone to psychological disorders. Thus, this statement is supported.

The cognitive control network is only active once individuals reach adulthood.

Tab 3 states that the cognitive control network is active in children, though immature, and continues to develop through adolescence into adulthood. Therefore, the claim that it is only active in adults is false. Thus, this statement is not true.

Adolescent rats demonstrate greater motivation for rewards than rats at other life stages.

• Tab 2 describes a study in which adolescent rats exerted significantly more effort than both younger and older rats to obtain a sweet reward. This indicates a higher motivation for rewards during adolescence. Thus, this statement is supported.

Correct answer:

All of the following statements are supported by the information provided EXCEPT:  "The cognitive control network is only active once individuals reach adulthood."

RajLfcMo · Answer

For q2, its said in the passage, that "teenagers", so that should mean uniform between genders, can we not infer then its uniform between genders as teenagers as a whole is mentioned

hamid001 · Answer

For Question 3
The passage says the cognitive control network is still developing during adolescence, not that it’s inactive.

The answer: The cognitive control network is only active once individuals reach adulthood.

Teenagers are stronger and more resilient than children, yet their mor

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True	Not True
		Similar patterns of adolescent behavior across species suggest that such changes are more strongly influenced by natural factors than by environment.
		Teenagers’ risk assessment ability is significantly lower than that of children when evaluating the consequences of their actions.
		Although children are physically weaker and more susceptible to disease than teenagers, their mortality rate is roughly half that of adolescents.

Can be inferred	Cannot be inferred
		The reward system and the cognitive control network do not follow the same developmental pattern over time in humans.
		Psychological disorders in teenagers are primarily caused by weak cognitive control.
		The extent of imbalance between the reward system and the cognitive control network during adolescence is uniform between genders.

GMAT Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR) Questions

Teenagers are stronger and more resilient than children, yet their mor

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

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