RC Question 15 Explanation
DISCUSSION: The main point is that several types of hormones can influence behavior. We used to think that only reproductive hormones did this. But now we know that peptide and steroid hormones affect whether we are thirsty/crave salt. This is clear from lines 1-13.
These changes in behavior occur along with changes inside the body that force us to preserve/get rid of water and salt, depending on our needs.
___________
- This is just a fact about how the body regulates salt. It isn’t the main point.
- This is only part of the example. It ignores how the body gets rid of extra water, and it misses the main point, which is that hormones can influence behavior.
- Not quite. We already know reproductive hormones could influence behavior. See lines 1-6.
- CORRECT. Close enough. This covers the explanation of salt regulation given in the second paragraph and the second half of the first paragraph. And it covers the main point of the first part of the first paragraph: hormones can influence behavior.
- We’re not told that hormones are the only thing that regulates thirst and taste for saltiness. And we’re not told whether the way hormones affect behavior is the same in both cases.
While answer choice D initially seemed best to me, a part of the answer contains direct contradictory phrasing to the passage. The answer choice states “Behavioral and Physiological responses to* major *changes in osmolality…are hormonally influenced,” while the passage in line 23 states that “compensatory responses are initiated when deviations from normal are quite *small*.” How is the difference reconciled?
Good question. It’s reconciled by the early parts of paragraphs two. That paragraph says that nonetheless, we sometimes see deviations from normal ranges of osmolality. It is in these cases that we see behavioural and physiological responses, and these are influenced by hormones.
Note: This is an old comment but I wanted to clarify the point.
Hey – I was stuck between B and D on this and was running out of time. In a pinch & without being more familiar with the passage, should I have gone with D for a “main idea” question because it’s broader than B? Or how would you have decided between the two if you didn’t have time to review the passage, if that makes sense?