Read the following early draft of an essay and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement
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.
Where would the following sentence best fit in the passage? The results of two new experiments suggest that rats are surprisingly selfless.
- A. After sentence 1
- B. After sentence 3
- C. After sentence 8
- D. After sentence 11
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Placing the sentence after sentence 8 effectively introduces the new findings about rats, enhancing the flow of information regarding their behavior. This position allows for a natural transition into discussing the implications of these experiments. Option A is too early in the passage, as it lacks context for the experiments. Option B, following sentence 3, interrupts the narrative progression and does not align with the preceding content. Option D, after sentence 11, is too late, as it would disrupt the conclusion by introducing new information that should precede it. Thus, option C is the most logical placement.
Placing the sentence after sentence 8 effectively introduces the new findings about rats, enhancing the flow of information regarding their behavior. This position allows for a natural transition into discussing the implications of these experiments. Option A is too early in the passage, as it lacks context for the experiments. Option B, following sentence 3, interrupts the narrative progression and does not align with the preceding content. Option D, after sentence 11, is too late, as it would disrupt the conclusion by introducing new information that should precede it. Thus, option C is the most logical placement.
Other Related Questions
In context, which of the following sentences would best be inserted between sentences 9 and 10 (reproduced below)?
They say we could save a great deal of energy by addressing the problem of food waste. The "sell by" dates on foods are typically very conservative and result in people throwing away perfectly edible items.
- A. Better labeling might help
- B. Many people regularly buy more food than they need.
- C. Certain types of produce spoil more quickly than others.
- D. Canned foods last much longer than fresh items
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A effectively connects the idea of food waste with the potential solution of better labeling. Improved labeling can help consumers understand the actual freshness of products, reducing unnecessary waste. Option B, while relevant to food consumption, does not directly address the issue of food waste or how to mitigate it. Option C focuses on spoilage rates of produce, which, although informative, does not provide a solution to the waste problem. Option D compares canned and fresh foods but fails to connect to the overarching theme of improving food labeling to reduce waste.
Option A effectively connects the idea of food waste with the potential solution of better labeling. Improved labeling can help consumers understand the actual freshness of products, reducing unnecessary waste. Option B, while relevant to food consumption, does not directly address the issue of food waste or how to mitigate it. Option C focuses on spoilage rates of produce, which, although informative, does not provide a solution to the waste problem. Option D compares canned and fresh foods but fails to connect to the overarching theme of improving food labeling to reduce waste.
In context, how should the underlined part of sentence 6 (reproduced below) be revised? The rats eating the chocolate themselves.
- A. would have eaten
- B. could have eaten
- C. had eaten
- D. have eaten
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The phrase "the rats eating the chocolate themselves" requires a revision to align with the present tense context of the sentence. Option D, "have eaten," effectively conveys a completed action relevant to the present, indicating that the rats have consumed the chocolate. Option A, "would have eaten," suggests a conditional scenario that does not fit the context. Option B, "could have eaten," implies potentiality rather than a completed action. Option C, "had eaten," indicates a past action that is no longer relevant to the present context. Thus, only option D maintains the intended meaning and tense consistency.
The phrase "the rats eating the chocolate themselves" requires a revision to align with the present tense context of the sentence. Option D, "have eaten," effectively conveys a completed action relevant to the present, indicating that the rats have consumed the chocolate. Option A, "would have eaten," suggests a conditional scenario that does not fit the context. Option B, "could have eaten," implies potentiality rather than a completed action. Option C, "had eaten," indicates a past action that is no longer relevant to the present context. Thus, only option D maintains the intended meaning and tense consistency.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 6 (reproduced below)?
Early on for example my anxiety about getting lost was so bad that I was even scared to go for a walk or to take a bus or the subway.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. on for example,
- C. on, for example,
- D. on, for example
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C, "on, for example," is the best choice because it correctly uses a comma to set off the phrase "for example," which introduces an illustrative clarification of the preceding idea. This punctuation enhances clarity and improves the flow of the sentence. Option A, "as it is now," lacks necessary punctuation and fails to clarify the relationship between ideas, making the sentence awkward and confusing. Option B, "on for example," omits the comma, which disrupts the sentence's readability and does not properly highlight the example being introduced. Option D, while similar to C, incorrectly uses "on," which is unnecessary in this context and can lead to confusion.
Option C, "on, for example," is the best choice because it correctly uses a comma to set off the phrase "for example," which introduces an illustrative clarification of the preceding idea. This punctuation enhances clarity and improves the flow of the sentence. Option A, "as it is now," lacks necessary punctuation and fails to clarify the relationship between ideas, making the sentence awkward and confusing. Option B, "on for example," omits the comma, which disrupts the sentence's readability and does not properly highlight the example being introduced. Option D, while similar to C, incorrectly uses "on," which is unnecessary in this context and can lead to confusion.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below)?
He knew that he was the first poet to participate in these prestigious ceremonies therefore, he contemplated which poem would be appropriate for the occasion
- A. (as it is now)
- B. ceremonies, therefore,
- C. ceremonies, therefore
- D. ceremonies, therefore
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
In this context, option B is the best choice because it correctly uses a comma before "therefore," which is necessary to separate the two independent clauses. This punctuation helps clarify the relationship between the ideas presented. Option A lacks the necessary punctuation, making the sentence run-on and harder to read. Option C omits the comma after "therefore," which is incorrect as it still connects two independent clauses. Option D is identical to C and also fails to include the necessary comma, leading to confusion in the sentence structure. Proper punctuation enhances clarity and comprehension.
In this context, option B is the best choice because it correctly uses a comma before "therefore," which is necessary to separate the two independent clauses. This punctuation helps clarify the relationship between the ideas presented. Option A lacks the necessary punctuation, making the sentence run-on and harder to read. Option C omits the comma after "therefore," which is incorrect as it still connects two independent clauses. Option D is identical to C and also fails to include the necessary comma, leading to confusion in the sentence structure. Proper punctuation enhances clarity and comprehension.