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There is no consensus among researchers regarding what qualifies a
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Updated on: 23 Nov 2021, 02:56
Updated on: 23 Nov 2021, 02:56
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Question 1
00:00
A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
based on 3555 sessions
55% (02:46) correct
45%
(02:58) wrong
Question 2
00:00
A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
based on 3384 sessions
71% (01:04) correct 29%
(01:22) wrong
Question 3
00:00
A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
5%
(low)
based on 3231 sessions
81% (00:47) correct 19%
(00:59) wrong
Source : GMATPrep Default Exam Pack
There is no consensus among researchers regarding what qualifies a substance as a pheromone. While most agree on a basic definition of pheromones as chemicals released by one individual of a species which, when detected by another individual of the same species, elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response, some researchers also specify that the response to pheromones must be unconscious. In addition, the distinction between pheromones and odorants—chemicals that are consciously detected as odors—can be blurry, and some researchers classify pheromones as a type of odorant. Evidence that pheromone responses may not involve conscious odor perception comes from the finding that in many species, pheromones are processed by the vomeronasal (or accessory olfactory) system, which uses a special structure in the nose, the vomeronasal organ (VNO), to receive chemical signals. The neural connections between the VNO and the brain are separate from those of the main olfactory system, whose processing of odorants triggers sensations of smell. But while the VNO does process many animal pheromone signals, not all animal pheromones work through the VNO. Conversely, not all chemical signals transmitted via the VNO qualify as pheromones. For example, garter snakes detect a chemical signal from earthworms—one of their favorite foods—via the VNO, and they use this signal to track their prey.
1. It can be inferred from the passage that in classifying pheromones as a type of odorant, the researchers referred to the highlighted text posit that
(A) pheromones are perceived consciously
(B) most pheromones are processed by the VNO
(C) most chemical signals processed by the VNO are pheromones
(D) Pheromone perception does not occur exclusively between members of the same species.
(E) pheromones do not always elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response
2. According to the passage, the fact that pheromones are processed by the VNO in many animal species has been taken as evidence of which of the following?
(A) The accessory and main olfactory systems are not separate
(B) Odorants and pheromones are not distinct types of chemicals.
(C) Odorants and pheromones both elicit a specific behavioral response.
(D) Pheromones do not trigger conscious sensations of smell.
(E) Pheromones aid animals in tracking prey.
3. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) compare and contrast the ways in which the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory systern process chemicals.
(B) summarize the debate over the role the vomeronasal organ plays in odor perception
(C) present some of the issues involved in the debate over what constitutes a pheromone
(D) propose a new definition of pheromones based on recent research
(E) argue that pheromones should be classified as a type of odorant
(A) pheromones are perceived consciously
(B) most pheromones are processed by the VNO
(C) most chemical signals processed by the VNO are pheromones
(D) Pheromone perception does not occur exclusively between members of the same species.
(E) pheromones do not always elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response
2. According to the passage, the fact that pheromones are processed by the VNO in many animal species has been taken as evidence of which of the following?
(A) The accessory and main olfactory systems are not separate
(B) Odorants and pheromones are not distinct types of chemicals.
(C) Odorants and pheromones both elicit a specific behavioral response.
(D) Pheromones do not trigger conscious sensations of smell.
(E) Pheromones aid animals in tracking prey.
3. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) compare and contrast the ways in which the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory systern process chemicals.
(B) summarize the debate over the role the vomeronasal organ plays in odor perception
(C) present some of the issues involved in the debate over what constitutes a pheromone
(D) propose a new definition of pheromones based on recent research
(E) argue that pheromones should be classified as a type of odorant
Originally posted by seofah on 05 Dec 2008, 05:14.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 23 Nov 2021, 02:56, edited 4 times in total.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 23 Nov 2021, 02:56, edited 4 times in total.
Updated complete topic (23).
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Re: There is no consensus among researchers regarding what qualifies a
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01 Mar 2013, 21:43
01 Mar 2013, 21:43
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7. It can be inferred from the passage thatin classifying pheromones as a type of
odorant, the researchers referred to posit that
VNO is evidence used to counter that pheromones are perceived consciously. Hence, the researchers who believe that pheromones are odorant will not posit pheromones as processed through the VNO. Hence, B and C are out.
Answer: A (odorant are perceived consciously. Hence, pheromones must posses that characteristic as well)
The passage mentions about pheromones between the same specie but mentions nothing about members of diff specie. Since it wasn't mention then we cannot conclude that the researchers would think this. maybe but we have no proof. Don't go beyond the passage. Hence, D is out.
Another trick in RC is that something mentioned in the passage for example the statement in E will be linked to a different portion in the passage. The author mentioned that most believe that pheromones should elicit response. Then he mentions some posit that pheromones are odorant and another some posit that response should be unconscious. But stay true to what was linked to the researchers who believe pheromones are odorant. That's all we know they think is true. The other beliefs are attributed to a different set of people. This is a trap. Hence E is out.
A. pheromones are perceived consciously
B. most pheromones are processed by the VNO
C. most chemical signals processed by the VNO are pheromones
D. Pheromone perception does not occur exclusively between members of the same species.
E. pheromones do not always elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response
8. According to the passage, the fact that pheromones are processed by the VNO
in many animal species has been taken as evidence of which of the following?
this is a type of question wherein we don't need to attack each choice. All you have to do is know what you learned from the passage before you go dive into the choices. We know that the VNO is an evidence against the claim that pheromones are odorant by showing that this system is separate from the system used for the sensation of smell. With this in mind, then go to look for that in the choices.
A is wrong. This is about proving or disproving something about pheromones.
B is wrong. VNO proves that they are distinct from each other.
C is wrong. VNO evidence is not about response or eliciting behavior, it's about the sensation of smell using a different organ.
D is the answer. It is obvious. bingo!
E is a trap. The VNO used to track prey refers to a non-pheromone. Read last sentence.
A. The accessory and main olfac-Tory systems are not separate
B. Odorants and pheromones are not distinct types of chemicals.
C. Odorants and pheromones both elicit a specific behavioral response.
D. Pheromones do not trigger conscious sensations of smell.
E. Pheromones aid animals in tracking prey.
9.The primary purpose of the passage is to
the master topic is Pheromone. Different beliefs of groups of people and evidences that show certain beliefs are not probably true and some arguments... Anything not about pheromones is obviously wrong. Hence, A and B are out.
D is out. The author was not able to pinpoint one sure definition.
E is out. The author seems to not lean to this theory.
Answer: c
A. compare and contrast the ways in which the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory systern
process chemicals.
B. summarize the debate over the role the vomeronasal organ plays in odor perception
C. present some of the issues involved in the debate over what constitutes a pheromone
D. propose a new definition of pheromones based on recent research
E. argue that pheromones should be classified as a type of odorant[/quote]
odorant, the researchers referred to posit that
VNO is evidence used to counter that pheromones are perceived consciously. Hence, the researchers who believe that pheromones are odorant will not posit pheromones as processed through the VNO. Hence, B and C are out.
Answer: A (odorant are perceived consciously. Hence, pheromones must posses that characteristic as well)
The passage mentions about pheromones between the same specie but mentions nothing about members of diff specie. Since it wasn't mention then we cannot conclude that the researchers would think this. maybe but we have no proof. Don't go beyond the passage. Hence, D is out.
Another trick in RC is that something mentioned in the passage for example the statement in E will be linked to a different portion in the passage. The author mentioned that most believe that pheromones should elicit response. Then he mentions some posit that pheromones are odorant and another some posit that response should be unconscious. But stay true to what was linked to the researchers who believe pheromones are odorant. That's all we know they think is true. The other beliefs are attributed to a different set of people. This is a trap. Hence E is out.
A. pheromones are perceived consciously
B. most pheromones are processed by the VNO
C. most chemical signals processed by the VNO are pheromones
D. Pheromone perception does not occur exclusively between members of the same species.
E. pheromones do not always elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response
8. According to the passage, the fact that pheromones are processed by the VNO
in many animal species has been taken as evidence of which of the following?
this is a type of question wherein we don't need to attack each choice. All you have to do is know what you learned from the passage before you go dive into the choices. We know that the VNO is an evidence against the claim that pheromones are odorant by showing that this system is separate from the system used for the sensation of smell. With this in mind, then go to look for that in the choices.
A is wrong. This is about proving or disproving something about pheromones.
B is wrong. VNO proves that they are distinct from each other.
C is wrong. VNO evidence is not about response or eliciting behavior, it's about the sensation of smell using a different organ.
D is the answer. It is obvious. bingo!
E is a trap. The VNO used to track prey refers to a non-pheromone. Read last sentence.
A. The accessory and main olfac-Tory systems are not separate
B. Odorants and pheromones are not distinct types of chemicals.
C. Odorants and pheromones both elicit a specific behavioral response.
D. Pheromones do not trigger conscious sensations of smell.
E. Pheromones aid animals in tracking prey.
9.The primary purpose of the passage is to
the master topic is Pheromone. Different beliefs of groups of people and evidences that show certain beliefs are not probably true and some arguments... Anything not about pheromones is obviously wrong. Hence, A and B are out.
D is out. The author was not able to pinpoint one sure definition.
E is out. The author seems to not lean to this theory.
Answer: c
A. compare and contrast the ways in which the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory systern
process chemicals.
B. summarize the debate over the role the vomeronasal organ plays in odor perception
C. present some of the issues involved in the debate over what constitutes a pheromone
D. propose a new definition of pheromones based on recent research
E. argue that pheromones should be classified as a type of odorant[/quote]
Re: There is no consensus among researchers regarding what qualifies a
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03 Sep 2018, 09:39
03 Sep 2018, 09:39
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Expert Reply
Boomshockalocka
Hi GMATNinja, could you please help explain question 3? Why C is correct but not D?
Which part of the passage discusses what constitute a pheromone?
And doesn't the passpage propose a new definition, which "specify that the response to pheromones must be unconscious"?
Thanks so much.
I'm an airhead, and wrote this a few weeks ago when I didn't have internet access... but never posted it. There are lots of great responses here already, but I'll pile on, just in case it's helpful. Which part of the passage discusses what constitute a pheromone?
And doesn't the passpage propose a new definition, which "specify that the response to pheromones must be unconscious"?
Thanks so much.
Quote:
3. The primary purpose of the passage is to
We're asked to state the primary purpose. It's not enough to pick a choice that seems factually true. We need to pick the choice that best states the overall reason the author is writing the entire passage. And here's the structure of the passage: - There's no consensus among researchers regarding what qualifies as a pheremone.
- Some researchers specify that pheremones must be unconsciously detected.
- On the other hand, some researchers classify pheremones as odorants, which means that they must be consciously detected.
- In many species, pheremones are processed by the VNO, which means that pheremones could be odorants but still be unconsciously detected.
- The VNO also processes non-odorant chemicals, which can also trigger a behavioral response without any kind of odor.
This is a funky cloud of smells (and non-smells). The author is presenting one new fact after the next, repeatedly challenging the ways that researchers classify pheromones by bringing up evidence that would contradict those classifications. By the end of the passage, it seems like none of the classifications really work. So rather than leading us to any one definition, the author is writing this passage in order to walk us through all of the ways that researchers attempt to classify pheromones. No wonder there's no consensus over what qualifies as a pheromone.
Quote:
(A) compare and contrast the ways in which the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory system process chemicals.
The author didn't write this entire paragraph just to tell us that the VNO and the main olfactory system are similar but different. Instead, author brings up this evidence to serve a bigger point: that the classifications researchers are using aren't very helpful. Eliminate (A).Quote:
(B) summarize the debate over the role the vomeronasal organ plays in odor perception
The phrase "summarize the debate" is tempting. But like (A), choice (B) focuses too narrowly on the VNO. The passage isn't about the debate over VNO. It's about the debate over pheromone classifications. Eliminate (B).Quote:
(C) present some of the issues involved in the debate over what constitutes a pheromone
Exactly! The author is walking us through the various classifications of a pheremone and citing evidence to support (or complicate) each one. (C) matches our understanding of the overall purpose, so we'll keep it around.Quote:
(D) propose a new definition of pheromones based on recent research
The author never proposes a new definition. The author lists multiple definitions proposed by researchers, but doesn't state that any one of them is the one we should accept. At the end of the passage, the author hasn't shown that any of these definitions is satisfactory, and the debate goes on without consensus. That's why we eliminate (D).Quote:
(E) argue that pheromones should be classified as a type of odorant
Again, this is not why the author is writing the passage as a whole. It's just one of the researcher viewpoints that the author presents in order to lay out all the issues at play in this debate. Eliminate (E).(C) Is the only good choice available, and it's a fine summary of why the author wrote this passage.
I hope this helps!
