CompTIA
Checkpoint
ISC
HP
Dell
EC-Council
EXIN
Fortinet
ITIL®
Juniper
PMI
Microsoft
VMware
Avaya
Google
Salesforce
Amazon
Palo Alto Networks
Certiport
ISC2
All Vendors
  2. Home
  3. Exams
  4. Test Prep
  5. MCAT Test

Free MCAT Test Exam Braindumps (page: 29)

Page 28 of 203
PDF with 811 Questions

The anthropomorphic bias of those who would relegate marsupials to an inferior evolutionary status is most apparent in their recourse to data on brain structure and behavior. Unlike humans and other placentals, marsupials lack the corpus callosum, which facilitates inter-hemisphere transfer of data acquired through the senses. Yet it cannot be inferred that marsupials are thus deprived of such function. Didelphis Virginiana, one of the opossums, makes use of the anterior commissure, an adaptation that is also found in reptiles and monotremes. Diprodontons, including kangaroos and koalas, supplement the anterior commissure with the fasciculus aberrans. While the modes of neocortical interconnection may be diverse, the work of Johnson, Heath and Jones points to the conclusion that, functionally speaking the cortices and neocortices of both groups of mammals exhibit parallel connections. Parker also notes "a similar range of brain size to body weight ratios and of neocortical expansion".
Another stigma borne by marsupials is the consensus that they are less intelligent than placentals. Yet Williams argues that, all else being equal, natural selection will favor instinctive over learned behavior as being more biologically efficient and that it is the accidental death of the young that is the prime selective pressure for the evolution of intelligence. Seen in this light, marsupials have a competitive edge; their gestation period is brief and the young remain in the pouch for an extended period exposed only to those dangers which also affect the mother. There they are directly exposed to the mother's food supply and can observe her behavior at leisure. Placentals, on the other hand, not only have a longer gestation period but, once their young are born, must often leave while foraging. Such absences increase the risk of mortality and decrease the opportunity to learn. Thus, among placentals, selection would favor the apparent intelligence in the young and protective behavior in the mother.
Marsupials are not known to exhibit maternal protective behavior. In fact, Serventy has reported that frightened female kangaroos will drop their pouch-young as they flee, drawing a predator's attention to the less able offspring while the adult escapes. This behavior, whether purposeful or accidental, instantaneously relieves the female marsupial of the mechanical difficulties of pregnancy with which her placental counterpart would be burdened, while marsupials can replace any lost young quickly. Thus, in the absence of any need for close maternal supervision, sacrificing their offspring in this manner may well have been favored in selection. Pointing to the absence of the "virtue" of maternal protectiveness in marsupials is an instance of how mistaken are those theorists who see similarities with humans as marks of evolutionary sophistication.
According to the passage, which of the following favor(s) the development of intelligence as a trait of placental mammals?

I). The need to leave their young while foraging
II). The comparatively great risk of accidental death of the young
III). The opportunity for the young to observe the mother at leisure

  1. I only
  2. III only
  3. I and II only
  4. II and III only

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

This is a Roman numeral question, and the information we need to answer it is contained in the second paragraph. The last three sentences of that paragraph contain the most important information for our purposes.
There we are told that the placentals need to leave their young to go foraging; that immediately justifies statement I). We're told directly thereafter that this absence increases the risk of accidental death to the young.
Hence, we can justify statement II as well. Note: At this point, only choice C meets our needs, but don't ignore statement III! Statement III, on the other hand, applies only to marsupials. We are told that the absence of the mother while she forages decreases the opportunity for placentals to learn by observing the mother. Therefore, statement III is not true.Kaplan Strategy:Use "+" and "-" symbols to annotate true statements and false statements, respectively, on roman numeral questions. This will guide you to the correct answer choice more quickly and will also prevent you from having to read the question over and over again.



The anthropomorphic bias of those who would relegate marsupials to an inferior evolutionary status is most apparent in their recourse to data on brain structure and behavior. Unlike humans and other placentals, marsupials lack the corpus callosum, which facilitates inter-hemisphere transfer of data acquired through the senses. Yet it cannot be inferred that marsupials are thus deprived of such function. Didelphis Virginiana, one of the opossums, makes use of the anterior commissure, an adaptation that is also found in reptiles and monotremes. Diprodontons, including kangaroos and koalas, supplement the anterior commissure with the fasciculus aberrans. While the modes of neocortical interconnection may be diverse, the work of Johnson, Heath and Jones points to the conclusion that, functionally speaking the cortices and neocortices of both groups of mammals exhibit parallel connections. Parker also notes "a similar range of brain size to body weight ratios and of neocortical expansion".
Another stigma borne by marsupials is the consensus that they are less intelligent than placentals. Yet Williams argues that, all else being equal, natural selection will favor instinctive over learned behavior as being more biologically efficient and that it is the accidental death of the young that is the prime selective pressure for the evolution of intelligence. Seen in this light, marsupials have a competitive edge; their gestation period is brief and the young remain in the pouch for an extended period exposed only to those dangers which also affect the mother. There they are directly exposed to the mother's food supply and can observe her behavior at leisure. Placentals, on the other hand, not only have a longer gestation period but, once their young are born, must often leave while foraging. Such absences increase the risk of mortality and decrease the opportunity to learn. Thus, among placentals, selection would favor the apparent intelligence in the young and protective behavior in the mother.
Marsupials are not known to exhibit maternal protective behavior. In fact, Serventy has reported that frightened female kangaroos will drop their pouch-young as they flee, drawing a predator's attention to the less able offspring while the adult escapes. This behavior, whether purposeful or accidental, instantaneously relieves the female marsupial of the mechanical difficulties of pregnancy with which her placental counterpart would be burdened, while marsupials can replace any lost young quickly. Thus, in the absence of any need for close maternal supervision, sacrificing their offspring in this manner may well have been favored in selection. Pointing to the absence of the "virtue" of maternal protectiveness in marsupials is an instance of how mistaken are those theorists who see similarities with humans as marks of evolutionary sophistication.
The author's attitude toward those who consider marsupials to occupy an inferior evolutionary position would most probably be one of:

  1. criticism because they ignore evidence that marsupials are more intelligent than usually supposed.
  2. disagreement because current studies support the opposite view.
  3. disagreement because they apply human standards in an inappropriate context.
  4. agreement, but on the basis of marsupials' lack of maternal protective behavior rather than their brain structure.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The answers break down into two parts ­ first, there is the author's attitude; second, there are the reasons for that attitude, which are going to test our ability to follow the logical progression of the passage. Choice D can be eliminated immediately because we know that the author does not support this view.
The point made in choice C echoes throughout the passage from the anthropomorphic bias of the first sentence to the point made in the last sentence in the passage. The context is inappropriate because the author seems to feel that what serves placentals, including humans, in the evolutionary sense, does not necessary serve marsupials.
Choice A misses the point of the passage. No such evidence is cited.
Choice B is wrong because it suggests that marsupials occupy a superior evolutionary position based on current studies. This is not correct.



The anthropomorphic bias of those who would relegate marsupials to an inferior evolutionary status is most apparent in their recourse to data on brain structure and behavior. Unlike humans and other placentals, marsupials lack the corpus callosum, which facilitates inter-hemisphere transfer of data acquired through the senses. Yet it cannot be inferred that marsupials are thus deprived of such function. Didelphis Virginiana, one of the opossums, makes use of the anterior commissure, an adaptation that is also found in reptiles and monotremes. Diprodontons, including kangaroos and koalas, supplement the anterior commissure with the fasciculus aberrans. While the modes of neocortical interconnection may be diverse, the work of Johnson, Heath and Jones points to the conclusion that, functionally speaking the cortices and neocortices of both groups of mammals exhibit parallel connections. Parker also notes "a similar range of brain size to body weight ratios and of neocortical expansion".
Another stigma borne by marsupials is the consensus that they are less intelligent than placentals. Yet Williams argues that, all else being equal, natural selection will favor instinctive over learned behavior as being more biologically efficient and that it is the accidental death of the young that is the prime selective pressure for the evolution of intelligence. Seen in this light, marsupials have a competitive edge; their gestation period is brief and the young remain in the pouch for an extended period exposed only to those dangers which also affect the mother. There they are directly exposed to the mother's food supply and can observe her behavior at leisure. Placentals, on the other hand, not only have a longer gestation period but, once their young are born, must often leave while foraging. Such absences increase the risk of mortality and decrease the opportunity to learn. Thus, among placentals, selection would favor the apparent intelligence in the young and protective behavior in the mother.
Marsupials are not known to exhibit maternal protective behavior. In fact, Serventy has reported that frightened female kangaroos will drop their pouch-young as they flee, drawing a predator's attention to the less able offspring while the adult escapes. This behavior, whether purposeful or accidental, instantaneously relieves the female marsupial of the mechanical difficulties of pregnancy with which her placental counterpart would be burdened, while marsupials can replace any lost young quickly. Thus, in the absence of any need for close maternal supervision, sacrificing their offspring in this manner may well have been favored in selection. Pointing to the absence of the "virtue" of maternal protectiveness in marsupials is an instance of how mistaken are those theorists who see similarities with humans as marks of evolutionary sophistication.
The author uses the word "virtue" (line 48) in order to:

  1. remind the reader that the word has specialized connotation in this context.
  2. ridicule the thinkers whom she is attacking in her conclusion.
  3. introduce the idea that moral concepts can be applied only to humans.
  4. indicate that the term reflects a mode of thinking with which she disagrees.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Often the use of quotation marks when they're not setting off a specialized term has an ironic intent. The context should tell us here that choice D is what we're after. Notice that the author says in this sentence that pointing out the absence of this virtue is an instance of how mistaken some people can be.
Choice A is incorrect as the author sees no specific or special connotation of the word in this application.
Choice B vastly overstates its case: "ridicule" implies too strong and negative a tone to attribute to the author.
Choice C characterizes the thoughts of the author too generally and does not address the question posed in the stem.



The anthropomorphic bias of those who would relegate marsupials to an inferior evolutionary status is most apparent in their recourse to data on brain structure and behavior. Unlike humans and other placentals, marsupials lack the corpus callosum, which facilitates inter-hemisphere transfer of data acquired through the senses. Yet it cannot be inferred that marsupials are thus deprived of such function. Didelphis Virginiana, one of the opossums, makes use of the anterior commissure, an adaptation that is also found in reptiles and monotremes. Diprodontons, including kangaroos and koalas, supplement the anterior commissure with the fasciculus aberrans. While the modes of neocortical interconnection may be diverse, the work of Johnson, Heath and Jones points to the conclusion that, functionally speaking the cortices and neocortices of both groups of mammals exhibit parallel connections. Parker also notes "a similar range of brain size to body weight ratios and of neocortical expansion".
Another stigma borne by marsupials is the consensus that they are less intelligent than placentals. Yet Williams argues that, all else being equal, natural selection will favor instinctive over learned behavior as being more biologically efficient and that it is the accidental death of the young that is the prime selective pressure for the evolution of intelligence. Seen in this light, marsupials have a competitive edge; their gestation period is brief and the young remain in the pouch for an extended period exposed only to those dangers which also affect the mother. There they are directly exposed to the mother's food supply and can observe her behavior at leisure. Placentals, on the other hand, not only have a longer gestation period but, once their young are born, must often leave while foraging. Such absences increase the risk of mortality and decrease the opportunity to learn. Thus, among placentals, selection would favor the apparent intelligence in the young and protective behavior in the mother.
Marsupials are not known to exhibit maternal protective behavior. In fact, Serventy has reported that frightened female kangaroos will drop their pouch-young as they flee, drawing a predator's attention to the less able offspring while the adult escapes. This behavior, whether purposeful or accidental, instantaneously relieves the female marsupial of the mechanical difficulties of pregnancy with which her placental counterpart would be burdened, while marsupials can replace any lost young quickly. Thus, in the absence of any need for close maternal supervision, sacrificing their offspring in this manner may well have been favored in selection. Pointing to the absence of the "virtue" of maternal protectiveness in marsupials is an instance of how mistaken are those theorists who see similarities with humans as marks of evolutionary sophistication.
With which of the following statements would the author be most likely to agree?

  1. Maternal protectiveness is a trait common to all higher mammals.
  2. Any physical or behavioral trait in animals should be evaluated primarily in terms of its contribution to species survival.
  3. Current conceptions of evolution must be modified to account for new data.
  4. Evolution is a progressive process culminating in the dominance of learned over instinctive behavior.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Choice A is incorrect because throughout the passage the author questions the concept of which mammals are higher and which are lower.
Choice C is much too broad: just what the current concepts of evolution might be is very unclear from the passage. Also, the use of the phrase "new data" is off key here; there is no indication that any of the work the author cites is new.
Choice D is a little easier to eliminate, as this is the very attitude that the author is against. This idea would lead, naturally, to the conclusion that placentals are more advanced than marsupials.
Choice B is supported by the author's discussion of the marsupial's lack of maternal instinct. Thus, by process of elimination alone, choice B is our correct answer choice.
Kaplan Strategy: When you are in doubt, use the process of elimination to keep your thinking patterns clear.






Post your Comments and Discuss Test Prep MCAT Test exam with other Community members:

MCAT Test Discussions & Posts