Behavior is one of two general responses available to endothermic

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 262, Date : 11-Aug-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

Behavior is one of two general responses available to endothermic (warm-blooded) species for the regulation of body temperature, the other being innate (reflexive) mechanisms of heat production and heat loss. Human beings rely primarily on the first to provide a hospitable thermal microclimate for themselves, in which the transfer of heat between the body and the environment is accomplished with minimal involvement of innate mechanisms of heat production and loss. Thermoregulatory behavior anticipates hyperthermia, and the organism adjusts its behavior to avoid becoming hyperthermic: it removes layers of clothing, it goes for a cool swim, etc. The organism can also respond to changes in the temperature of the body core, as is the case during exercise; but such responses result from the direct stimulation of thermoreceptors distributed widely within the central nervous system, and the ability of these mechanisms to help the organism adjust to gross changes in its environment is limited.

Until recently it was assumed that organisms respond to microwave radiation in the same way that they respond to temperature changes caused by other forms of radiation. After all, the argument runs, microwaves are radiation and heat body tissues. This theory ignores the fact that the stimulus to a behavioral response is normally a temperature change that occurs at the surface of the organism. The thermoreceptors that prompt behavioral changes are located within the first millimeter of the skin’s surface, but the energy of a microwave field may be selectively deposited in deep tissues, effectively bypassing these thermoreceptors, particularly if the field is at near resonant frequencies. The resulting temperature profile may well be a kind of reverse thermal gradient in which the deep tissues are warmed more than those of the surface. Since the heat is not conducted outward to the surface to stimulate the appropriate receptors, the organism does not “appreciate” this stimulation in the same way that it “appreciates” heating and cooling of the skin. In theory, the internal organs of a human being or an animal could be quite literally cooked well-done before the animal even realizes that the balance of its thermomicroclimate has been disturbed.

Until a few years ago, microwave irradiations at equivalent plane-wave power densities of about 100 mW/cm2 were considered unequivocally to produce “thermal” effects; irradiations within the range of 10 to 100 mW/cm2 might or might not produce “thermal” effects; while effects observed at power densities below 10 mW/cm2 were assumed to be “nonthermal” in nature. Experiments have shown this to be an oversimplification, and a recent report suggests that fields as weak as 1 mW/cm2 can be thermogenic. When the heat generated in the tissues by an imposed radio frequency (plus the heat generated by metabolism) exceeds the heat-loss capabilities of the organism, the thermoregulatory system has been compromised. Yet surprisingly, not long ago, an increase in the internal body temperature was regarded merely as “evidence” of a thermal effect.   1 
1. The author is primarily concerned with

A. Showing that behavior is a more effective way of controlling bodily temperature than innate mechanisms
B. Criticizing researchers who will not discard their theories about the effects of microwave radiation on organisms
C. Demonstrating that effects of microwave radiation are different from those of other forms of radiation
D. Analyzing the mechanism by which an organism maintains its bodily temperature in a changing thermal environment
E. Discussing the importance of thermoreceptors in the control of the internal temperature of an organism

2 
 2. The author makes which of the following points about innate mechanisms for heat production?

1.  They are governed by thermoreceptors inside the body of the organism rather than at the surface.
 2.  They are a less effective means of compensating for gross changes in temperature than behavioral strategies.
 3.  They are not affected by microwave radiation.

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

3 
 3. Which of the following would be the most logical topic for the author to take up in the paragraph following the final paragraph of the selection?

A. A suggestion for new research to be done on the effects of microwaves on animals and human beings
B. An analysis of the differences between microwave radiation
C. A proposal that the use of microwave radiation be prohibited because it is dangerous
D. A survey of the literature on the effects of microwave radiation on human beings
E. A discussion of the strategies used by various species to control hyperthermia

4 
 4. The author implies that the proponents of the theory that microwave radiation acts on organisms in the same way as other forms of radiation based their conclusions primarily on

A. Laboratory research
B. Unfounded assumption
C. Control group surveys
D. Deductive reasoning
E. Causal investigation

5 
 5. The tone of the passage can best be described as

A. Genial and conversational
B. Alarmed and disparaging
C. Facetious and cynical
D. Scholarly and noncommittal
E. Scholarly and concerned

6 
 6. The author is primarily concerned with

A. Pointing out weaknesses in a popular scientific theory
B. Developing a hypothesis to explain a scientific phenomenon
C. Reporting on new research on the effects of microwave radiation
D. Criticizing the research methods of earlier investigators
E. Clarifying ambiguities in the terminology used to describe a phenomenon

Source:  1000 RC 
Difficulty Level:   700

nandeta · Accepted Answer

1. The author is primarily concerned with

A. Showing that behavior is a more effective way of controlling bodily temperature than innate mechanisms. 
Wrong. This was mentioned only in paragraph 1.

B. Criticizing researchers who will not discard their theories about the effects of microwave radiation on organisms 
Wrong. The theory was being criticized and not the researchers.

C. Demonstrating that effects of microwave radiation are different from those of other forms of radiation 
Correct.

D. Analyzing the mechanism by which an organism maintains its bodily temperature in a changing thermal environment 
Wrong. It has been stated that how organisms maintain its bodily temperature but has not been analyzed.

E. Discussing the importance of thermoreceptors in the control of the internal temperature of an organism 
Wrong. Was mentioned in one or two lines only.

2. The author makes which of the following points about innate mechanisms for heat production?

1. They are governed by thermoreceptors inside the body of the organism rather than at the surface. 
"but such responses result from the direct stimulation of thermoreceptors distributed widely within the central nervous system"

2. They are a less effective means of compensating for gross changes in temperature than behavioral strategies. 
 "Since the heat is not conducted outward to the surface to stimulate the appropriate receptors, the organism does not “appreciate” 
this stimulation in the same way that it “appreciates” heating and cooling of the skin."

3. They are not affected by microwave radiation.

3. Which of the following would be the most logical topic for the author to take up in the paragraph following the final paragraph of the selection?

A. A suggestion for new research to be done on the effects of microwaves on animals and human beings 
Correct. In the last paragraph the author is also discussing the effects of microwave radiations on organisms but with limited results.

B. An analysis of the differences between microwave radiation 
Wrong. The paragraph is not talking about microwave radiations but it's effects on organisms and how does it affect them.

C. A proposal that the use of microwave radiation be prohibited because it is dangerous 
Wrong. No such information has been mentioned in the earlier paragraphs.

D. A survey of the literature on the effects of microwave radiation on human beings 
Wrong. This option is just mentioning human beings and not animals.

E. A discussion of the strategies used by various species to control hypothermia 
Wrong. This has already been mentioned in the first paragraph.

4. The author implies that the proponents of the theory that microwave radiation acts on organisms in the same way as other forms of radiation based their conclusions primarily on

A. Laboratory research 
Wrong. It can't be laboratory research as it has nothing to do with the chemicals.

B. Unfounded assumption 
Right. "below 10 mW/cm2 were assumed to be “nonthermal” in nature."

C. Control group surveys 
Wrong. This is not a survey but an expriment.

D. Deductive reasoning 
Wrong. The author has not tried explain any reasons for the presented experiment results or theory.

E. Causal investigation 
Wrong. It was not a casual investigation but a serious one.

5. The tone of the passage can best be described as

A. Genial and conversational 
Wrong. The passage has a serious tone and it is not written in a funny manner or in a dialogue format.

B. Alarmed and disparaging 
Wrong. The author did not raise any alarm or expressed his thoughts that something is of little worth.

C. Facetious and cynical 
Wrong. Cynical is a wrong word here as the there is nothing to be distrusting about the whole topic. They are stating the facts.

D. Scholarly and noncommittal 
Wrong. The author did present his opinions in between.

E. Scholarly and concerned 
Scholarly is a correct word and the author is expressing his concern by pointing out the weakness in the scientific theory.

6. The author is primarily concerned with

A. Pointing out weaknesses in a popular scientific theory 
Correct. A popular scientific theory which has been accepted by everyone has few loopholes explained by the author.

B. Developing a hypothesis to explain a scientific phenomenon 
Wrong. No hypothesis has been developed. A scientific theory is already presented.

C. Reporting on new research on the effects of microwave radiation 
Wrong. Author did express his own opinion.

D. Criticizing the research methods of earlier investigators 
Wrong. We are not talking about investigators here but the theory.

E. Clarifying ambiguities in the terminology used to describe a phenomenon 
Wrong. The terminologies stated were correct.

gmat1393 · Answer

please post OE for questions 2 and 3

sahilgmat786 · Answer

can some one please discuss Q50 and Q6

Westminster · Answer

can someone post explanation for q3

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello there Q#3 is explained in the post below in the link https://gmatclub.com/forum/behavior-is- ... l#p2473449 It help might you.

KHannigan · Answer

nandeta  I believe there is an error for part 2 and 6, please let me know your thoughts? I'm new to the forum so am not sure how to request review properly (if I was supposed to use the 'request' button), apologies.

The line quoted above relates to changes in the body core, but the passage doesn't stipulate or imply that this is related to the innate category of responses. On the contrary, later the passage includes: "The thermoreceptors that prompt behavioral change..." which implies that thermoreceptors are related to behavioral change. Although it could be related to both types of change, this is also not inferable from the passage.

For the same reason as clarified in item I above, it follows that this sentence relates to behavioral responses, not innate ones. Indeed the organism needing to "appreciate" the temperature implies that we are discussing behavioral response.

Agreed - this is also not a point made by the author about innate mechanisms.

Given all three are not true, this appears to mean that the question is malformed with no correct answer.

It seems that this takes it too far. While the passage uses the word 'theory' (per. "This theory ignores the fact that the stimulus...") it is not referring to a scientific theory, but is instead referring to a logical argument: "microwaves are radiation and heat body tissues ...   ... organisms respond to microwave radiation in the same way that they respond to temperature changes caused by other forms of radiation" and resulting incorrect assumptions.

This argument and those assumptions don't meet the standard of being a "scientific theory" and the text doesn't describe them as such. Hence the author is using the colloquial sense of the word theory (meaning "a supposition intended to explain").

I would select this answer. Although the author expresses opinions during the passage, this doesn't prevent it from being true that the primary undertaking of the passage is to give an account of the new research and how it challenges previously popular assumptions.

Behavior is one of two general responses available to endothermic

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Behavior is one of two general responses available to endothermic

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