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Question 1
C
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55%
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Question 2
A
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5%
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Question 3
D
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Question 4
C
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The role of nurturing in determining one’s behavioral traits has been hotly contested. Historically, geneticists believed that behavioral traits are inherited. After all, many properties of the brain are genetically organized and don't depend on information coming in from the senses. Since active genes are essentially inherited, most traditional geneticists believe that nurturing environment plays little role in shaping one’s behavioral traits.
However, a new line of research indicated that methyl groups can activate dormant genes, bringing about a slew of changes much later in a person’s life. The methyl group works like a placeholder in a cookbook, attaching to the DNA within each cell to select only those recipes - er, genes - necessary for that particular cell’s proteins, telling the DNA what kind of cells to form. The first such observation was in which methyl groups activated by causes ranging from exposure to certain chemicals to changes in diet set off a cascade of cellular changes resulting in cancer. Because methyl groups are attached to the genes, residing beside but separate from the double-helix DNA code, their study is dubbed epigenetics - “epi” referring to Greek for outer or above.
Behavioral geneticists, encouraged by this discovery proved that traumatic experiences such as child neglect, drug abuse, or other severe stresses also set off epigenetic changes to the DNA inside the neurons of a person’s brain, permanently altering behavior. Similarly, through multivariate analysis, they proved that identical twins, in scenarios where one twin has gone through a life altering event, can have vastly different reaction to a stressful situation.
However, a new line of research indicated that methyl groups can activate dormant genes, bringing about a slew of changes much later in a person’s life. The methyl group works like a placeholder in a cookbook, attaching to the DNA within each cell to select only those recipes - er, genes - necessary for that particular cell’s proteins, telling the DNA what kind of cells to form. The first such observation was in which methyl groups activated by causes ranging from exposure to certain chemicals to changes in diet set off a cascade of cellular changes resulting in cancer. Because methyl groups are attached to the genes, residing beside but separate from the double-helix DNA code, their study is dubbed epigenetics - “epi” referring to Greek for outer or above.
Behavioral geneticists, encouraged by this discovery proved that traumatic experiences such as child neglect, drug abuse, or other severe stresses also set off epigenetic changes to the DNA inside the neurons of a person’s brain, permanently altering behavior. Similarly, through multivariate analysis, they proved that identical twins, in scenarios where one twin has gone through a life altering event, can have vastly different reaction to a stressful situation.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. propose a new framework that incorporates the role of genetics and the role to life experiences in determining an individual’s behavioral traits.
B. summarize the new research on behavioral traits and inheritance.
C. present findings indicating that, like inheritance, nurturing plays a role in shaping one’s behavioral traits
D. argue through new findings that life experiences play a vital role in shaping an individual’s behavioral traits.
E. establish a causal relationship between an individual’s life experiences and his reaction to stressful situations.
A. propose a new framework that incorporates the role of genetics and the role to life experiences in determining an individual’s behavioral traits.
B. summarize the new research on behavioral traits and inheritance.
C. present findings indicating that, like inheritance, nurturing plays a role in shaping one’s behavioral traits
D. argue through new findings that life experiences play a vital role in shaping an individual’s behavioral traits.
E. establish a causal relationship between an individual’s life experiences and his reaction to stressful situations.
2. Why does the author state highlighted text:
A. to provide a reason for geneticists belief that behavioral traits are inherited.
B. to prove that active genes and not dormant genes define key behavioral traits.
C. to describe the role played by genetic inheritance in determining one’s personality.
D. to indicate that there have been few experiments in the past linking behavior and life experience.
E. to lay the foundation for the development of epigenetics.
A. to provide a reason for geneticists belief that behavioral traits are inherited.
B. to prove that active genes and not dormant genes define key behavioral traits.
C. to describe the role played by genetic inheritance in determining one’s personality.
D. to indicate that there have been few experiments in the past linking behavior and life experience.
E. to lay the foundation for the development of epigenetics.
3. Which of the following may be inferred from the passage?
A. It is quite likely for twins to develop different personality traits.
B. Resetting the changes introduced by corresponding methyl groups can help cure cancer.
C. Most cancers are caused due to one’s life experiences rather than due to one’s genetic make-up.
D. Traumatic experiences that activate dormant genes can bring about behavioral changes.
E. Identical twins who have led different lives are likely to have different behavioral traits.
A. It is quite likely for twins to develop different personality traits.
B. Resetting the changes introduced by corresponding methyl groups can help cure cancer.
C. Most cancers are caused due to one’s life experiences rather than due to one’s genetic make-up.
D. Traumatic experiences that activate dormant genes can bring about behavioral changes.
E. Identical twins who have led different lives are likely to have different behavioral traits.
4. In the context of this passage, what is the importance of the example illustrating how cancer is caused?
A. It proved that life experiences can alter a person’s personality traits.
B. It provided definitive proof of personality change in a person much later in his life.
C. It showed that genes that may be dormant could be activated by external triggers many years after birth.
D. It led to the coining of the term - epigenetics.
E. It led to a boom in the study of Behavioral genetics.
A. It proved that life experiences can alter a person’s personality traits.
B. It provided definitive proof of personality change in a person much later in his life.
C. It showed that genes that may be dormant could be activated by external triggers many years after birth.
D. It led to the coining of the term - epigenetics.
E. It led to a boom in the study of Behavioral genetics.
Sreyoshi007
Joined: 01 Feb 2018
Last visit: 18 Mar 2019
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Location: India
Schools: ISB '20 (WA) NUS '21 (I) NTU '20 (D)
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V38
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
11 Sep 2018, 23:09
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Solved in 5 mins, 4/4 correct. Very interesting passage.
Please find below my explanations for the 4 questions,
Q1.
The passage is concerned with providing findings and examples which prove that nurturing plays a vital role in shaping behavioral traits. Hence option C is correct.
A is out because this is not an new framework. D is too extreme, the author is not arguing in the passage, eliminate D. E is not correct, the causality between life experiences and stressful situations has been mentioned once but is not the summary of the passage. Eliminate E.
I was confused between B and C, but on skimming through the passage again, the passage provides findings rather than summarizing the research, hence C is the clear winner.
Q.2
The purpose of the highlighted text is to explain why geneticists thought that behavioral traits are inherited.
Q.3
Since this is an inference question, I would go option by option and eliminate.
A. Referring to the following sentence in the passage
Eliminate A.
B. Referring to the following sentence in the passage
Eliminate B.
C. The word most is not correct, we have no information present in the passage to state the same. Eliminate C.
D. Traumatic experiences that activate dormant genes can bring about behavioral changes. Notice the word can, and not will. The passage does mention this as we can see in the following lines -
Hence D is the correct answer.
E. Identical twins who have led different lives are likely to have different behavioral traits
We are not told that they are likely to have different behavioral traits, and this cannot be inferred from the passage. Eliminate E.
Hence the correct answer is D.
Q.4
The example of how cancer is caused is given in order to indicate that methyl groups can activate dormant genes, bringing about a slew of changes much later in a person’s life. So, going through the options, C is the correct answer.
Do press kudos if this helped!
Please find below my explanations for the 4 questions,
Q1.
Quote:
The passage is concerned with providing findings and examples which prove that nurturing plays a vital role in shaping behavioral traits. Hence option C is correct.
A is out because this is not an new framework. D is too extreme, the author is not arguing in the passage, eliminate D. E is not correct, the causality between life experiences and stressful situations has been mentioned once but is not the summary of the passage. Eliminate E.
I was confused between B and C, but on skimming through the passage again, the passage provides findings rather than summarizing the research, hence C is the clear winner.
Q.2
Quote:
The purpose of the highlighted text is to explain why geneticists thought that behavioral traits are inherited.
Quote:
Hence Option A is correct.
Q.3
Quote:
Since this is an inference question, I would go option by option and eliminate.
A. Referring to the following sentence in the passage
Quote:
But option A states its quite likely for identical twins to develop personality traits, which is not correct, because only in same cases if one if the twins experiences a life altering event, he/she may react differently to stressful situations.
Eliminate A.
B. Referring to the following sentence in the passage
Quote:
Now, this does not mean resetting the changes by methyl groups will cure cancer. There is no information given about this in the passage.
Eliminate B.
C. The word most is not correct, we have no information present in the passage to state the same. Eliminate C.
D. Traumatic experiences that activate dormant genes can bring about behavioral changes. Notice the word can, and not will. The passage does mention this as we can see in the following lines -
Quote:
Hence D is the correct answer.
E. Identical twins who have led different lives are likely to have different behavioral traits
We are not told that they are likely to have different behavioral traits, and this cannot be inferred from the passage. Eliminate E.
Hence the correct answer is D.
Q.4
Quote:
The example of how cancer is caused is given in order to indicate that methyl groups can activate dormant genes, bringing about a slew of changes much later in a person’s life. So, going through the options, C is the correct answer.
Do press kudos if this helped!
General Discussion
11 Sep 2018, 21:56
Kudos
Bookmarks
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. propose a new framework that incorporates the role of genetics and the role to life experiences in determining an individual’s behavioral traits.
INCORRECT Out of scope. The passage doesn't present nay framework.
B. summarize the new research on behavioral traits and inheritance.
INCORRECT Out of scope. The passage doesn't summarize any new research.
C. present findings indicating that, like inheritance, nurturing plays a role in shaping one’s behavioral traits
Correct
D. argue through new findings that life experiences play a vital role in shaping an individual’s behavioral traits.
INCORRECT Partial scope. This is mentioned only in the 3rd paragraph.
E. establish a causal relationship between an individual’s life experiences and his reaction to stressful situations.
INCORRECT Inconsistent. The passage talks about life altering experience. Also, change in behavior is not just limited to just stressful situations.
2. Why does the author state highlighted text:
A. to provide a reason for geneticists belief that behavioral traits are inherited.
Correct The author mentions this line to substantiate the thought of the geneticists that behavioral traits are inherited.
B. to prove that active genes and not dormant genes define key behavioral traits.
INCORRECT Out of scope.
C. to describe the role played by genetic inheritance in determining one’s personality.
INCORRECT Out of scope.
D. to indicate that there have been few experiments in the past linking behavior and life experience.
INCORRECT
E. to lay the foundation for the development of epigenetics.
INCORRECT This is opposite in connection to epigenetics
3. Which of the following may be inferred from the passage?
A. It is quite likely for twins to develop different personality traits.
INCORRECT Out of scope. The presence of "Quite likely" makes this choice extreme.
B. Resetting the changes introduced by corresponding methyl groups can help cure cancer.
INCORRECT Out of scope. The passage states that certain changes in methyl group can result in cancer but the reverse cannot be inferred.
C. Most cancers are caused due to one’s life experiences rather than due to one’s genetic make-up.
INCORRECT Out of scope.
D. Traumatic experiences that activate dormant genes can bring about behavioral changes.
Correct This information can be inferred from the first line of second and third paragraphs.
E. Identical twins who have led different lives are likely to have different behavioral traits.
INCORRECT The word "likely" makes this choice incorrect.
4. In the context of this passage, what is the importance of the example illustrating how cancer is caused?
A. It proved that life experiences can alter a person’s personality traits.
INCORRECT The illustration doesn't prove the point given in this option.
B. It provided definitive proof of personality change in a person much later in his life.
INCORRECT Out of scope. The example illustrated doesn't prove anything about personality change.
C. It showed that genes that may be dormant could be activated by external triggers many years after birth.
Correct How cancer is caused is illustrated to show that certain changes in dormant genes show later in life.
D. It led to the coining of the term - epigenetics.
INCORRECT Out of scope.
E. It led to a boom in the study of Behavioral genetics.
INCORRECT Out of scope.
