PT107.S2.P3.Q21

PrepTest 107 - Section 2 - Passage 3 - Question 21

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P1

Scientists have long known that the soft surface of the bill of the platypus is perforated with openings that contain sensitive nerve endings. ████ █████████ ████████ ████ ██████████ █████████ ██ ███ █████ ██ ███ ████████ ████ ███ ██████ ████ ███ ████ ██ ██████ ███ ████ █████ ███████████ █ ██████████ █████████ ██ ███ ████ ████ ███ ████████ █████ █████ ███ ████████ ███ ██████ ████ ██ ██ ██████████ ███

Biologists' conclusion · Platypus uses its bill to locate prey underwater
We've known for a long time that the bill has nerve endings. Now biologists think those nerves on the bill are used for finding prey underwater.
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New evidence supporting conclusion · Neurophysiological studies
Studies reveal two sensory receptors in pores on platypus bills: mechanoreceptors (respond to physical pressure), and electroreceptors (respond to electrical fields).
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Bohringer's conclusion · Bill is the primary sensory organ for the platypus
This was supported by studies showing the bill is sensitive to touch.
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Puzzle · How does platypus locate prey at a distance?
If a platypus isn't touching its prey with its bill, how can it find the prey? (Probably has to do with the electroreceptos, since we discussed the mechanoreceptors earlier.)
P2

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Set-up for Scheich's hypothesis · Platypus hunts by steadily wagging bill, then moving bill erratically after prey it finds prey
The erratic movements are called "searching behavior."
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Scheich's hypothesis · Platypus distinguishes prey from non-prey by detecting electric fields
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Scheich's experiment · Confirms platypus can detect electric fields
Platypus switches to searching behavior when it encounters electric field from battery. Then platypus attacked the battery like it was food.
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Scheich's speculation · All invertebrates that platypus eats produce electric fields
We already know that shrimp prey of platypus produces an electric field.
Passage Style
Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)
Single position
Show answer
21.

Which one of the following ████ █████████ ███ ████████████ ██ ███ ████████

a

A hypothesis is █████████ ███ ████████ ████ ██████████ █████████

The passage doesn’t present examples of the claim that the platypus uses its bill to locate prey underwater. Rather, we have studies that provide supporting evidence for this view. But none of the studies involve specific instances of playpuses using their bills to find prey underwater.

13%
b

A conclusion is █████████ ███ ███ ███████████ ██████████ ██ ██ █████████

This best captures the organization as explained above.

75%
c

A thesis is █████████ ███ ████████ ████ ██ █████████

The author doesn’t defend a thesis with an argument. She simply describes research that lends support to the conclusion presented at the beginning. A description of research is not the same thing as an argument.

3%
d

Opposing views are ██████████ ██████████ ███ ████ ███████████

The author never presents views that oppose each other.

1%
e

A theory is █████████ ███████████ ███ ████ ████████

The author doesn’t amend any theory proposed at the beginning. Scheich’s results don’t lead to some modification of the biologists’ view; it’s supporting evidence for that view.

8%

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