Reading comp PrepTest 147 · Section 2 · Question 1

Passage

Passage A  Muscle memory is a puzzling phenomenon.Most bodybuilders have experienced this phenomenon, yet virtually no discussions of it have Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary

Topic: Science


Passage A

Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • Phenomenon introduced (easier for bodybuilders to increase muscle size when training a second time)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparision, according to the author/bodybuilders:
      • People who are retraining after getting out of shape regain strength faster (third sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "puzzling" (first sentence); "some plausible explanation must exist" (last sentence)

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • One explanation (body retains muscle fibers to help lift weights)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparisons:
      • The more weight a bodybuilder lifts, a greater amount of neurons and muscle fibers are used (third sentence)
      • As bodybuilders train, their bodies may learn to use more neurons and muscle fibers when lifting the heaviest weights (fifth sentence)
      • Even when bodybuilders stop training, their bodies may remember how to utilize the greater number of neurons and muscle fibers (sixth and seventh sentences)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship:
      • Bodybuilders' muscles' greater ability to use neurons and muscle fibers cause them to progress faster when retraining (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "potential explanation" (first sentence); "well established" (second sentence); "could be" (fifth sentence); "may remain" (sixth sentence)

Paragraph 3

  • Paragraph note
    • Another explanation (bodybuilders know what they can lift so they add weight more quickly)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Comparisons:
      • The first time bodybuilders train they don't know how much they can lift and add weight slowly; they know what they can lift when retraining and add weight quickly (second through fourth sentences)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship:
      • Adding weights more quickly causes bodybuilders to progress faster when retraining (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "also possible" (first sentence); "could" (first sentence)

Passage B

Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • Phenomenon introduced (easier to increase muscle size after being fit) and explanation previewed (muscles retain trait from old training)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Intersection with passage A:
      • The same phenomenon discussed (muscle memory/faster muscle growth when retraining)
    • Comparisons:
      • It's easier to increase muscle size after already being fit (first sentence)
    • Cause-and-effect relationship, according to previous research:
      • Muscle cells merge with adjacent stem cells and incorporate nuclei from stem cells, which causes cells to get bigger (third and fourth sentences)
    • Author's attitude: "think they know" (first sentence); "demonstrated" (third sentence)

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • Explanation (muscle cells retain nuclei of stem cells)
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, points of intersection, and the author's attitude
    • Intersection with passage A:
      • The explanation advanced is different than either of passage A's explanations
    • Comparison, according to study:
      • Even after disuse and decreased muscle size, the number of nuclei in lab mice's leg muscle cells stayed the same (third sentence)
    • Possible cause-and-effect relationship, according to the author:
      • The extra nuclei could be ready to make protein/provide strength, which could cause muscles to increase in size more rapidly (last sentence)
    • Author's attitude: "could be" (last sentence)

Main Points?

Passage A: The muscle memory phenomenon — where athletes have an easier time regaining muscle/strength — could plausibly have a physical (neurons) or mental (knowing what weight you can lift) explanation.

Passage B: Scientists believe muscle memory is explained by the retention of extra nuclei in muscle cells after they gain strength, even after those muscles atrophy from disuse.

Key Lines?

Passage A:

Paragraph 1, Sentence 4 (P1, S4) - A phenomenon is introduced

P2, S1 - One potential explanation is described

P3, S1 - Another potential explanation is described

Passage B:

P1, S1 - A phenomenon is noted, and an explanation is previewed

P2, S4 - The explanation is described

Meta-Structure? Relationship Between Passages?

Relationship - Opposing Viewpoints: Neither author completely commits to any of the explanations advanced in the passages, so it's a bit of a stretch to say these authors have "opposing viewpoints." Still, the authors discuss different explanations for the same phenomenon. Passage A's author suggests that either muscle cells' ability to utilize more muscle fibers or mental confidence could explain muscle memory. Passage B's author suggests muscle cells' retention of extra nuclei from stem cells could explain muscle memory. These are distinct explanations, so the best description of the overall relationship between these passages is "opposing viewpoints."

Meta-Structure - Phenomenon/Explanation: Both passages deal with the same phenomenon: muscle memory. And both passages treat it as an actual phenomenon that warrants explanation. Passage A presents two potential explanations, but the author never sides with one over the other. (In fact, both explanations could contribute to the phenomenon) Passage B, on the other hand, presents an explanation that seems to be the current consensus view among scientists (Lines 39-40). In general, the Author's preferred explanation is the passage's main point. Here, however, the author doesn't take sides in Passage A, presenting both explanations as plausible; and the Author of Passage B presents the explanation as what scientists currently think — language that doesn't commit the author to that explanation.

Last Thoughts?

These passages agree on the reality of a phenomenon, but they both put forward different explanations, and neither author commits to the explanation they put forward (though Passage B's author seems closer to doing so than Passage A's). Let's keep that in mind as we work through the questions.

Also, passage A speaks in the second person, addressing the audience as "you." Whenever a passage isn't in the third-person — either because it is in first-person ("I…") or, less commonly, second-person ("You…") — that tends to show up in a question or two.

Question prompt

Both passages seek an Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Question Type

Science

Strategy Overview

Review the main point of both passages, looking for a way to frame the main points as a question that both passages answer

Answer Anticipation

This is the first question on almost all Comparative Passages. We can think of this as a Main Point question, in which the main point is framed as a question both passages answer. To approach this, we should think of each passage's main point and try to frame those main points as a question.As we discussed in the Meta-Structure? Relationship Between Passages? section in the Passage Summary, these passages discuss the same phenomenon — muscle memory — but describe different explanations. So, although the passages reach different main points, they're both written to address the same phenomenon. So, let's look for an answer choice that says both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Why are explanations in Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) Does this say that both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory?

    Nope. Passage A discusses inconclusive explanations, making this an attractive answer choice. Passage A presents two potential explanations, both of which are inconclusive.

    However, Passage B talks about what scientists "think they know" — a rather definitive statement (even the "think" qualifier just means the author isn't necessarily on board). And even if we qualify that statement in Passage B as inconclusive, there's no exploration in either passage as to why the explanations are inconclusive.

  2. B
    What is the best Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) Does this say that both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory?

    Not at all. At best, passage A could be considered to have some advice on an effective way of getting back into bodybuilding (adding weight more rapidly). But it just says that that might happen, not that it's the "best" way to get back into training. And passage B is silent on the issue.

  3. C
    Why is building muscle Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem

    (C) Does this say that both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory?

    Yep. Both passages bring up the phenomenon of muscle memory — the relative ease of regaining muscle after a period of inactivity rather than gaining it in the first place — and then explain why it occurs. Therefore, both passages are interested in answering why regaining that muscle is easier, so this is the correct answer.

  4. D
    Is muscle memory a Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited

    (D) Does this say that both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory?

    This answer is tempting. Passage A puts forward a physiological and psychological explanation, and passage B puts forward a physiological one. However, neither passage attempts to answer this question. They're not concerned with whether the explanation is purely psychological; they're interested in the true explanation for the phenomenon. While we could infer each author's answer to this question (maybe and no, respectively), they didn't set out to examine whether it's a psychological phenomenon. So, this answer is incorrect.

  5. E
    Is there a psychological Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) Does this say that both passages were written to answer the question of what causes muscle memory?

    Nope. This answer has a trap. It's about gaining muscle through exercise, not regaining muscle. The passages are interested in muscle memory, not any gain in muscle size or strength, so this answer is incorrect.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 1%
  2. B 1%
  3. C Credited 93%
  4. D 4%
  5. E 1%

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