Reading comp PrepTest 147 · Section 2 · Question 4

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

It can be inferred 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 relationship between the passages, then head to the answers to see which one properly categorizes something true of passage A's author

Answer Anticipation

If you started this question and thought through only Passage A, that's understandable. However, note what the question asks. If it were going to rely on information only from passage A, it likely would have read: It can be inferred from Passage A that the author would most likely agree with which of the following? However, it explicitly mentions that the answer will be drawn from the passages, meaning that the correct answer will probably address the author of passage A's relationship with passage B.So, instead of anticipating an answer based on passage A, we should think through the relationship between the two passages. They both agreed that muscle memory is a phenomenon that needs explaining, but they put forward different explanations. There is some overlap between the explanations — both put forward a physiological explanation — though the specifics differ. And passage B argues that the scientists are rather certain of their theory without taking a stance, while passage A's author puts forward two potential explanations without committing to either.Let's find an answer reflecting any of these details!

Answer choices

  1. A
    is more certain than Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) Does this answer choice accurately characterize the author of passage A's relationship to passage B?

    No. Both authors are pretty certain muscle memory exists. Passage A calls it something that "must" have an explanation (Lines 7-9), and Passage B opens with a definitive statement that it's easier to gain muscle if you've had muscle before (Lines 38-39).

  2. B
    probably agrees with the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) Does this answer choice accurately characterize the author of passage A's relationship to passage B?

    Nope. Passage A's author puts forward two theories that are different from those in passage B (Lines 10-12; Lines 29-31; Lines 58-61). So, the author of Passage A likely wouldn't agree with Passage B's explanation.

  3. C
    was probably not aware Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem

    (C) Does this answer choice accurately characterize the author of passage A's relationship to passage B?

    Even without reviewing the details of passage A, we can probably guess that this is correct. This answer is likely correct because if the author of passage A knew of the research from passage B, that author almost certainly would have put forward the results as a potential explanation. Since passage A's author puts forward different explanations, the author is likely unaware of passage B's research.

    If we review the details from passage A, we'll find the author's claim that there is "virtually no discussion" of muscle memory in scientific publications (Lines 3-4). Research that puts forward an explanation for muscle memory would certainly count as such a discussion, so the author must not be aware of it. This answer is, therefore, correct.

  4. D
    probably disagrees with the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited

    (D) Does this answer choice accurately characterize the author of passage A's relationship to passage B?

    Not quite. But this may be a tempting answer choice. Passage B explains muscle memory by reference nuclei, and passage A presents different explanations. Still, we don't have any reason to believe the author of passage A would disagree with passage B's argument about the role of nuclei in muscle strength. After all, the author of passage A never mentions nuclei. Without knowing the author's opinion on this, we can't say they would probably disagree with it.

  5. E
    tends to be more Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) Does this answer choice accurately characterize the author of passage A's relationship to passage B?

    No. First, passage B presents the research as backing up the scientists' view, not the author's (Lines 52-55). Even ignoring that, passage B uses studies on mice to draw conclusions about what happens in humans, showing at least some willingness to accept such results. Passage A doesn't talk about studies on animals at all, so we can't assess passage A's author's level of skepticism towards such studies. So, this answer comparing their level of skepticism is unsupported.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 4%
  2. B 19%
  3. C Credited 60%
  4. D 10%
  5. E 7%

Deeper help

Ask follow-ups on any step

Optional AI tutor mode will let you interrogate assumptions, compare answers, and drill weak patterns without leaving the page.

Human-written explanations stay primary; AI is an add-on when you want it.

Discussion

View all discussions Start a discussion