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01 Jan 2024, 11:48
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Mountain climbers often use two different techniques to breathe at high altitudes: one is a rapid, shallow breathing method, and the other is a slower, deep breathing technique. It is observed that climbers who begin with rapid, shallow breathing often switch to deep breathing later in the ascent. One hypothesis is that rapid, shallow breathing is less effective for oxygen intake at high altitudes; another hypothesis is that muscle fatigue from rapid breathing necessitates the switch to deeper breaths.
Which of the following, if observed in experiments with climbers at high altitudes, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
Which of the following, if observed in experiments with climbers at high altitudes, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
01 Jan 2024, 11:48
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Official Solution:
Mountain climbers often use two different techniques to breathe at high altitudes: one is a rapid, shallow breathing method, and the other is a slower, deep breathing technique. It is observed that climbers who begin with rapid, shallow breathing often switch to deep breathing later in the ascent. One hypothesis is that rapid, shallow breathing is less effective for oxygen intake at high altitudes; another hypothesis is that muscle fatigue from rapid breathing necessitates the switch to deeper breaths.
Which of the following, if observed in experiments with climbers at high altitudes, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
We have 2 hypothesis here that are being evaluated:
1) Rapid/shallow breaths do not pull in enough oxygen at altitude (and perhaps that's why they switch to deep)
2) Rapid breathing rate makes the muscles more tired (and perhaps that's why they switch to deep)
So we need to refute one of these and support the other. The correct answer will tell us that on is the likely culprit and the other is likely not; an answer choice that says A is the culprit but tells us directly or indirectly (via inference) nothing about B does not satisfy the condition, so if we prove one, it does not automatically disprove the other as these may not be mutually exclusive.
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
This answer choice covers the second hypothesis - climbers who use shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who use deep breathing technique, therefore, we can conclude that shallow breathing indeed causes muscles to be tired. We are not told anything about oxygen levels however, so we can't quite make this answer choice fit the requirement of strengthening one and weakening the other hypothesis. B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
This is the correct answer. We are told that that only altitude varies on identical climbs (for the sake of CR you should assume everything is identical - rate, duration, etc and the only difference is the altitude) while muscular workload is held steady. As we are told that climber's oxygen levels drop, we are able to see that they are not getting fatigued before they switch, or in this case, because the switch happens sooner at higher altitude, we can conclude that the lack of oxygen kicks in before muscles get tired. Therefore, we are supporting the oxygen hypothesis and weakening the muscle fatigue one.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
This is a distractor and irrelevant option for this question. It does not explain why rapid, shallow breathers switch, so it does not helps us decide between the two hypotheses. We can eliminate it
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
This is also an irrelevant answer choice that goes into creating multiple segments of climbers. We can perhaps infer that experienced climbers who don't get tired as fast as new ones, use the deep breathing technique, but this does not help us decide why the switch happens. This is a messy choice. We can eliminate it as it is not helpful either.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
Cold introduces another variable that could affect fatigue, circulation, and endurance and potential oxygen intake but we are not sure how or how much it impacts it. The passage does not touch it, so this feels outside of the scope. Moreover, this answer choice does not address either hypothesis.
Answer: B
Mountain climbers often use two different techniques to breathe at high altitudes: one is a rapid, shallow breathing method, and the other is a slower, deep breathing technique. It is observed that climbers who begin with rapid, shallow breathing often switch to deep breathing later in the ascent. One hypothesis is that rapid, shallow breathing is less effective for oxygen intake at high altitudes; another hypothesis is that muscle fatigue from rapid breathing necessitates the switch to deeper breaths.
Which of the following, if observed in experiments with climbers at high altitudes, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other?
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
We have 2 hypothesis here that are being evaluated:
1) Rapid/shallow breaths do not pull in enough oxygen at altitude (and perhaps that's why they switch to deep)
2) Rapid breathing rate makes the muscles more tired (and perhaps that's why they switch to deep)
So we need to refute one of these and support the other. The correct answer will tell us that on is the likely culprit and the other is likely not; an answer choice that says A is the culprit but tells us directly or indirectly (via inference) nothing about B does not satisfy the condition, so if we prove one, it does not automatically disprove the other as these may not be mutually exclusive.
A. Climbers who start with deep breathing and switch to rapid, shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who do not switch techniques.
This answer choice covers the second hypothesis - climbers who use shallow breathing report greater fatigue than those who use deep breathing technique, therefore, we can conclude that shallow breathing indeed causes muscles to be tired. We are not told anything about oxygen levels however, so we can't quite make this answer choice fit the requirement of strengthening one and weakening the other hypothesis. B. Climbers using rapid, shallow breathing on identical climbs at different altitudes switch to deep breathing much earlier at higher altitudes, even when their climbing speed and breathing rate are kept constant.
This is the correct answer. We are told that that only altitude varies on identical climbs (for the sake of CR you should assume everything is identical - rate, duration, etc and the only difference is the altitude) while muscular workload is held steady. As we are told that climber's oxygen levels drop, we are able to see that they are not getting fatigued before they switch, or in this case, because the switch happens sooner at higher altitude, we can conclude that the lack of oxygen kicks in before muscles get tired. Therefore, we are supporting the oxygen hypothesis and weakening the muscle fatigue one.
C. Climbers who practice deep breathing techniques at lower altitudes find it easier to maintain this method when climbing at high altitudes.
This is a distractor and irrelevant option for this question. It does not explain why rapid, shallow breathers switch, so it does not helps us decide between the two hypotheses. We can eliminate it
D. Experienced climbers tend to use deep breathing consistently, while less experienced climbers often start with rapid, shallow breathing.
This is also an irrelevant answer choice that goes into creating multiple segments of climbers. We can perhaps infer that experienced climbers who don't get tired as fast as new ones, use the deep breathing technique, but this does not help us decide why the switch happens. This is a messy choice. We can eliminate it as it is not helpful either.
E. The frequency of climbers switching from rapid, shallow breathing to deep breathing is higher in extremely cold conditions.
Cold introduces another variable that could affect fatigue, circulation, and endurance and potential oxygen intake but we are not sure how or how much it impacts it. The passage does not touch it, so this feels outside of the scope. Moreover, this answer choice does not address either hypothesis.
Answer: B
23 Apr 2024, 19:25
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I may be misunderstanding, but think the explanation for why A isn't the answer may be off. If climbers who use deep breathing before switching to shallow breathing report greater fatigue than climbers who only use deep breathing, then wouldn't this suggest that deep breathing causes less fatigue and therefore support the second hypothesis?
"This option suggests that deep breathing might cause more fatigue, which is contrary to both hypotheses."
"This option suggests that deep breathing might cause more fatigue, which is contrary to both hypotheses."
