Passage
(1) Calling someone a rat may be complimentary (2) In one experiment, University of Chicago neuroscientist Peggy Mason placed 30 pairs of rats in pens. (3) One rat was caged in the middle of the pen, while the other was free to run around. (4) Eventually, 23 of 30 rats liberated their peers by pushing the cage door open with their heads or leaning against the door until it tipped over.
(5) In another experiment, Mason gave rats access to two cages: in one cage was another rat, in the other was a pile of chocolate chips. (6) The rats eating the chocolate themselves (7) Instead, most of the rodents opened both cages and shared the sweets (8) "In rat land, that is big." Mason says, claiming that this study is the first to show altruistic behavior in rodents.
(9) Not all scientists agree with the conclusion Mason drew from the experiment, however (10) The jailbreaking rats might have only been trying to silence their cohorts' distressing alarm calls (11) Mason counters that the alarm calls from the caged rats were not frequent enough to motivate their peers, but both parties are speculating at this point.
(12) Mason's new study is one of many that are changing how scientists think about empathy and altruism, namely that such characteristics are not limited to people, as they once thought. (13) It now seems that many animals have evolved instincts to help others.
In context, adjusting capitalization as needed, which of the following would most appropriately be inserted at the beginning of sentence 10 (reproduced below)?
The jailbreaking rats might have only been trying to silence their cohorts' distressing alarm calls
It is true that:
- A. It is true that
- B. They point out that
- C. They claim it is obvious that
- D. It appears that
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B, "They point out that," effectively introduces the sentence by indicating that a specific viewpoint or observation is being made about the jailbreaking rats' behavior. This phrasing suggests a direct reference to a previous argument or evidence, enhancing the clarity of the statement. Option A, "It is true that," is too vague and does not connect to any preceding discussion, making it less effective. Option C, "They claim it is obvious that," implies a level of certainty that may not be warranted, potentially misrepresenting the argument's intent. Option D, "It appears that," introduces ambiguity and weakens the assertiveness needed in this context, making it less suitable than option B.
Option B, "They point out that," effectively introduces the sentence by indicating that a specific viewpoint or observation is being made about the jailbreaking rats' behavior. This phrasing suggests a direct reference to a previous argument or evidence, enhancing the clarity of the statement. Option A, "It is true that," is too vague and does not connect to any preceding discussion, making it less effective. Option C, "They claim it is obvious that," implies a level of certainty that may not be warranted, potentially misrepresenting the argument's intent. Option D, "It appears that," introduces ambiguity and weakens the assertiveness needed in this context, making it less suitable than option B.
Other Related Questions
Which is the best way to combine sentences 6 and 7 (reproduced below)?
The poet expressed reluctance to proceed in this manner. It was not customary for him to write a commissioned poem for a certain occasion
- A. The poet expressed reluctance to proceed in this manner, and the reason for that was because it was not customary for hien to write a commissioned poem for a certain occasion.
- B. The post expressed reluctance to proceed in this manner because it was not customary for him to write a commissioned poem for a certain occasion.
- C. Because the poet,expressed reluctance to proceed in this manner, it was not customary for him to write a commissioned poem for a certain occasion
- D. The poet expressed reluctance, because it was not customary for him to write a commissioned poem for a
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A effectively combines the two sentences by clearly linking the poet's reluctance to the reason behind it, maintaining coherence and clarity. The phrase "the reason for that was because" emphasizes the connection between the two ideas. Option B, while concise, lacks the explicit connection that option A provides, making it less effective in conveying the relationship between the reluctance and the custom. Option C incorrectly begins with "Because," which disrupts the sentence structure and implies causation in a way that confuses the intended meaning. Option D introduces an unnecessary comma, which disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence, making it less effective than option A.
Option A effectively combines the two sentences by clearly linking the poet's reluctance to the reason behind it, maintaining coherence and clarity. The phrase "the reason for that was because" emphasizes the connection between the two ideas. Option B, while concise, lacks the explicit connection that option A provides, making it less effective in conveying the relationship between the reluctance and the custom. Option C incorrectly begins with "Because," which disrupts the sentence structure and implies causation in a way that confuses the intended meaning. Option D introduces an unnecessary comma, which disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence, making it less effective than option A.
In context, where would the following sentence best be placed?
Any given instance of this practice may seem trivial, but the amount of waste quickly adds up.
- A. Before sentence 2
- B. Before sentence 4
- C. Before sentence 7
- D. Before sentence 13
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Placing the sentence before sentence 4 effectively emphasizes the significance of the practice being discussed, highlighting how seemingly minor actions contribute to larger waste issues. This context sets up a contrast between the triviality of individual instances and their cumulative impact. Option A, before sentence 2, lacks the necessary context to connect the triviality of the practice to its consequences. Option C, before sentence 7, is too far along in the discussion, diminishing the impact of the statement. Option D, before sentence 13, would disrupt the flow of ideas, as it is too late in the narrative to introduce the concept of cumulative waste effectively.
Placing the sentence before sentence 4 effectively emphasizes the significance of the practice being discussed, highlighting how seemingly minor actions contribute to larger waste issues. This context sets up a contrast between the triviality of individual instances and their cumulative impact. Option A, before sentence 2, lacks the necessary context to connect the triviality of the practice to its consequences. Option C, before sentence 7, is too far along in the discussion, diminishing the impact of the statement. Option D, before sentence 13, would disrupt the flow of ideas, as it is too late in the narrative to introduce the concept of cumulative waste effectively.
In context, which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below)? Dark shadows: streaks of bright light, and, off-balance compositions were all typical of the visual style.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. shadows, streaks of bright light and
- C. shadows, streaks of bright light, and
- D. shadows, streaks of bright light, and,
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C effectively maintains the parallel structure of the list, ensuring clarity and flow. The use of commas before "and" is appropriate in a series with three or more items, adhering to standard punctuation rules. Option A retains the original structure but lacks clarity due to the unnecessary comma after "light." Option B omits the comma before "and," which can lead to confusion in longer lists, making it less clear. Option D incorrectly adds a comma after "and," which is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow of the sentence. Thus, C is the most effective choice for clarity and correctness.
Option C effectively maintains the parallel structure of the list, ensuring clarity and flow. The use of commas before "and" is appropriate in a series with three or more items, adhering to standard punctuation rules. Option A retains the original structure but lacks clarity due to the unnecessary comma after "light." Option B omits the comma before "and," which can lead to confusion in longer lists, making it less clear. Option D incorrectly adds a comma after "and," which is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow of the sentence. Thus, C is the most effective choice for clarity and correctness.
In the context of the passage, what sentence should be inserted immediately after sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Mason counters that the alarm calls from the caged rats were not frequent enough to motivate their peers, but both parties are speculating at this point.
- A. No one will ever really know why rats do what they do
- B. Mason is probably biased anyway because it was her experiment.
- C. More research must be done to arrive at an answer.
- D. Some scientists will complain no matter what
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Inserting "More research must be done to arrive at an answer" after sentence 11 effectively emphasizes the ongoing debate and the need for further investigation into the behaviors of rats. This aligns with the speculative tone of the discussion. Option A, while true, does not contribute to the dialogue about the necessity of additional research. Option B introduces bias but distracts from the main focus on research requirements. Option D generalizes scientists' behavior without addressing the specific context of Mason's argument, making it less relevant to the passage's intent.
Inserting "More research must be done to arrive at an answer" after sentence 11 effectively emphasizes the ongoing debate and the need for further investigation into the behaviors of rats. This aligns with the speculative tone of the discussion. Option A, while true, does not contribute to the dialogue about the necessity of additional research. Option B introduces bias but distracts from the main focus on research requirements. Option D generalizes scientists' behavior without addressing the specific context of Mason's argument, making it less relevant to the passage's intent.