Reading comp PrepTest 147 · Section 2 · Question 5

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

Given the style and Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: D

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

Question Type

Science

Strategy Overview

Review the authors' tones and attitudes to get a sense of what audience they're writing for

Answer Anticipation

We categorize this as an Author's Attitude question because the authors' tone and means of expressing themselves can tell us a lot about the audience they're writing for. We can also consider the passages individually since the answer choices are split, and each will rely on information only from the given passage.For passage A, we noted in the Last Thoughts? section that the author speaks in the second-person — the more weight "you" lift (Line 15); one way that "your" body (Line 19) (among others). As such, this article seems directed at people who have experienced this phenomenon, so it's likely addressed at an audience that has lifted weights before. The scientific terminology is also kept to a minimum (and even defines some common scientific terms like "neurons"). We can infer that passage A is likely written to an audience of bodybuilders or athletes generally.Passage B does have more science in it, but that could be addressed at a general audience or a scientific one — it's going to come down to the details. And there are a few things that make it more directed at a general audience than a scientific one. First, the passage starts with a discussion of "[p]umping up" and being "buff" — colloquialisms that wouldn't be used in an academic journal. Second, it states that "scientists think" something is true, suggesting that the readers aren't themselves scientists. And third, the passage explains some scientific concepts that, presumably, a scientific audience would be familiar with, like the role of nuclei and how muscles merge with stem cells.So, passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise.

Answer choices

  1. A
    Passage A: skeptics of Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) Does this say that passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise?

    Nope. So we can quickly eliminate (A). Besides, if Passage A were addressed to people skeptical of muscle memory, it would have spent time analyzing the muscle gains of people after returning to exercise instead of attempting to explain how it works. And Passage B doesn't address the reader, so it's not targeted at people who personally experienced muscle memory.

  2. B
    Passage A: scientific researchers Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) Does this say that passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise?

    No. So, cross off (B). After all, passage A speaks in wishy-washy statements that aren't backed up by research, so it's unlikely that it's targeted at scientific researchers. And passage B doesn't include any information that would help trainers and coaches get people back in shape — the explanation that muscle memory is due to having extra nuclei doesn't suggest a specific type of training!

  3. C
    Passage A: athletes who Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited

    (C) Does this say that passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise?

    Not quite. While Passage A speaks directly to the reader, there's reason to think it's specifically addressed to people who work with a trainer. If anything, by directing the passage at "you" (the reader), it seems to be talking to people who take the reins on their own training! And passage B doesn't seem necessarily directed at people engaged in a fitness routine. It talks about research explaining a phenomenon but without practical application for working out.

  4. D
    Passage A: bodybuilders Passage Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D matches the stem

    (D) Does this say that passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise?

    Yes, it does. Let's select (D).

    Passage A directs itself directly at the reader, discussing reasons that "you" might see faster muscle gains after coming back from a break. That suggests it's targeted at a weightlifting audience. Passage B uses phrases like "[p]umping up" and talks about what scientists believe while explaining basic scientific concepts such as nuclei, apoptosis, and how muscles work. It also goes into scientific studies that would have no practical use in weightlifting. As such, it's targeted at a more general audience that's not necessarily made up of scientists or weightlifters. Both halves of this answer reflects the tone, language, and content of their respective passages, so it is correct.

  5. E
    Passage A: sports psychologists Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited

    (E) Does this say that passage A is likely aimed at athletes or exercise enthusiasts, while passage B is likely aimed at a more general audience interested in science, health, or exercise?

    Nope. We can immediately eliminate (E). Although one of passage A's explanations has a psychological aspect, but the first one doesn't, so it doesn't appear to be targeted at sports psychologists. And passage B explains things that an exercise physiologist should already know — such as how muscular strength works. This answer choice thus misses the mark on both fronts!

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 10%
  2. B 7%
  3. C 2%
  4. D Credited 50%
  5. E 30%

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