- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8917
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:24 pm
#31357
Complete Question Explanation
As with the first section of this test, we start right off with a friendly Resolve the Paradox question (and in fact, this test had five of them, a bit higher than usual and a welcome development for those of us that love these, like me). Here, we are tasked with finding an explanation for why a cold-blooded lizard's tongue-retracting ability decreases substantially in cold weather (which tends to weaken muscle power in such animals, so that makes sense), but it's tongue-extending ability isn't really affected all that much (and there's the paradox). If it's all about muscles, then our prephrase should reflect that. We want an answer that says the lizard needs more muscle power at play to retract its tongue than to extend it.
Answer A: No help here, as this answer does nothing to explain why the lizard's ability to extend its tongue in cold weather isn't affected all that much. What happens in warmer weather isn't relevant. Loser.
Answer B: The fact that it can extend its tongue a long way, while fascinating, tells us nothing at all about the difference the cold weather makes on retracting vs. extending. Loser.
Answer C: More fascinating facts about the lizard, which is apparently found all over the place in lots of different weather conditions. But what about that difference in tongue behavior? Still no help (and while some folks might find this a little frustrating, they shouldn't, because it's great to eliminate losers quickly and easily like this).
Answer D: This is the correct answer. The lizard doesn't use muscle power at all to extend its tongue, while retraction requires muscle power. That's why the cold affects retraction but not extension! Bingo! A pretty good match for our prephrase.
Answer E: This answer seems to cloud the issue somewhat by telling us that the lizard's tongue-retracting muscles are a lot stronger than those of other lizards. Does that mean they should be affected less by the cold, or more, or the same? And what does this tell us about tongue extension? Nothing. As this answer just leaves us scratching our heads, no closer to solving the mystery, it's a loser.
As with the first section of this test, we start right off with a friendly Resolve the Paradox question (and in fact, this test had five of them, a bit higher than usual and a welcome development for those of us that love these, like me). Here, we are tasked with finding an explanation for why a cold-blooded lizard's tongue-retracting ability decreases substantially in cold weather (which tends to weaken muscle power in such animals, so that makes sense), but it's tongue-extending ability isn't really affected all that much (and there's the paradox). If it's all about muscles, then our prephrase should reflect that. We want an answer that says the lizard needs more muscle power at play to retract its tongue than to extend it.
Answer A: No help here, as this answer does nothing to explain why the lizard's ability to extend its tongue in cold weather isn't affected all that much. What happens in warmer weather isn't relevant. Loser.
Answer B: The fact that it can extend its tongue a long way, while fascinating, tells us nothing at all about the difference the cold weather makes on retracting vs. extending. Loser.
Answer C: More fascinating facts about the lizard, which is apparently found all over the place in lots of different weather conditions. But what about that difference in tongue behavior? Still no help (and while some folks might find this a little frustrating, they shouldn't, because it's great to eliminate losers quickly and easily like this).
Answer D: This is the correct answer. The lizard doesn't use muscle power at all to extend its tongue, while retraction requires muscle power. That's why the cold affects retraction but not extension! Bingo! A pretty good match for our prephrase.
Answer E: This answer seems to cloud the issue somewhat by telling us that the lizard's tongue-retracting muscles are a lot stronger than those of other lizards. Does that mean they should be affected less by the cold, or more, or the same? And what does this tell us about tongue extension? Nothing. As this answer just leaves us scratching our heads, no closer to solving the mystery, it's a loser.