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Sea snakes

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kashefian Rising GMAT Star
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Sea snakes Post Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:19 am
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    In terrestrial environments, gravity places
    special demands on the cardiovascular systems of
    animals. Gravitational pressure can cause blood to
    pool in the lower regions of the body, making it
    diffi cult to circulate blood to critical organs such as
    the brain. Terrestrial snakes, in particular, exhibit
    adaptations that aid in circulating blood against the
    force of gravity.
    The problem confronting terrestrial snakes is best
    illustrated by what happens to sea snakes when
    removed from their supportive medium. Because the
    vertical pressure gradients within the blood vessels
    are counteracted by similar pressure gradients in the
    surrounding water, the distribution of blood
    throughout the body of sea snakes remains about
    the same regardless of their orientation in space,
    provided they remain in the ocean. When removed
    from the water and tilted at various angles with the
    head up, however, blood pressure at their midpoint
    drops signifi cantly, and at brain level falls to zero.
    That many terrestrial snakes in similar spatial
    orientations do not experience this kind of circulatory
    failure suggests that certain adaptations enable them
    to regulate blood pressure more effectively in those
    orientations.
    One such adaptation is the closer proximity of the
    terrestrial snake’s heart to its head, which helps to
    ensure circulation to the brain, regardless of the
    snake’s orientation in space. The heart of sea snakes
    can be located near the middle of the body, a
    position that minimizes the work entailed in
    circulating blood to both extremities. In arboreal
    snakes, however, which dwell in trees and often
    assume a vertical posture, the average distance
    from the heart to the head can be as little as 15
    percent of overall body length. Such a location
    requires that blood circulated to the tail of the
    snake travel a greater distance back to the heart,
    a problem solved by another adaptation. When
    climbing, arboreal snakes often pause
    momentarily to wiggle their bodies, causing waves
    of muscle contraction that advance from the lower
    torso to the head. By compressing the veins and
    forcing blood forward, these contractions
    apparently improve the fl ow of venous blood
    returning to the heart.


    It can be inferred from the passage that which of the
    following is true of species of terrestrial snakes that
    often need to assume a vertical posture?
    (A) They are more likely to be susceptible to
    circulatory failure in vertical postures than are
    sea snakes.
    (B) Their hearts are less likely to be located at the
    midpoint of their bodies than is the case with
    sea snakes.
    (C) They cannot counteract the pooling of blood in
    lower regions of their bodies as effectively as
    sea snakes can.
    (D) The blood pressure at their midpoint decreases
    signifi cantly when they are tilted with their
    heads up.
    (E) They are unable to rely on muscle contractions
    to move venous blood from the lower torso to
    the head.

    the OA is B.

    But I cannot understand where in the passage it states that the heart of sea snakes is located at the midpoint of their body?

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    kashefian Rising GMAT Star
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    Post Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:40 am
    anyone?

    shovan85 Community Manager
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    Post Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:02 pm
    kashefian wrote:

    One such adaptation is the closer proximity of the
    terrestrial snake’s heart to its head, which helps to
    ensure circulation to the brain, regardless of the
    snake’s orientation in space.
    The heart of sea snakes
    can be located near the middle of the body, a
    position that minimizes the work entailed in
    circulating blood to both extremities.
    In arboreal
    snakes, however, which dwell in trees and often
    assume a vertical posture, the average distance
    from the heart to the head can be as little as 15
    percent of overall body length. Such a location
    requires that blood circulated to the tail of the
    snake travel a greater distance back to the heart,
    a problem solved by another adaptation. When
    climbing, arboreal snakes often pause
    momentarily to wiggle their bodies, causing waves
    of muscle contraction that advance from the lower
    torso to the head. By compressing the veins and
    forcing blood forward, these contractions
    apparently improve the fl ow of venous blood
    returning to the heart.


    It can be inferred from the passage that which of the
    following is true of species of terrestrial snakes that
    often need to assume a vertical posture?
    (A) They are more likely to be susceptible to
    circulatory failure in vertical postures than are
    sea snakes.
    (B) Their hearts are less likely to be located at the
    midpoint of their bodies than is the case with
    sea snakes.
    (C) They cannot counteract the pooling of blood in
    lower regions of their bodies as effectively as
    sea snakes can.
    (D) The blood pressure at their midpoint decreases
    signifi cantly when they are tilted with their
    heads up.
    (E) They are unable to rely on muscle contractions
    to move venous blood from the lower torso to
    the head.
    See the bold part of the last passage.

    It says that in order to circulation of blood throughout the body (Head to Tail: Extremities) the heart is located near the middle of the body. This is not the case for other snakes. Thus, we can infer that the other terrestrial snakes' hearts are less likely to be located at the midpoint of their bodies than is the case with sea snakes. Also the same has been supported further in the passage by the muscle movement of Arboreal snake.

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    sanabk Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
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    Post Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:57 pm
    This is an inference question.

    One such adaptation is the closer proximity of the
    terrestrial snake’s heart to its head, which helps to
    ensure circulation to the brain, regardless of the
    snake’s orientation in space. The heart of sea snakes
    can be located near the middle of the body, a
    position that minimizes the work entailed in
    circulating blood to both extremities.


    Answer choice B can be inferred from the above lines of the P2.

    prashant misra Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
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    Post Sun Nov 06, 2011 4:29 am
    the answer to this question is B.we can infer it from the lines mentioned
    " the closer proximity of the
    terrestrial snake’s heart to its head, which helps to
    ensure circulation to the brain, regardless of the
    snake’s orientation in space"

    mourinhogmat1 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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    Post Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:35 pm
    One such adaptation is the closer proximity of the
    terrestrial snake’s heart to its head, which helps to
    ensure circulation to the brain, regardless of the
    snake’s orientation in space. The heart of sea snakes
    can be located near the middle of the body, a
    position that minimizes the work entailed in
    circulating blood to both extremities. In arboreal
    snakes, however, which dwell in trees and often
    assume a vertical posture, the average distance
    from the heart to the head can be as little as 15
    percent of overall body length.
    Such a location
    requires that blood circulated to the tail of the
    snake travel a greater distance back to the heart,
    a problem solved by another adaptation. When
    climbing, arboreal snakes often pause
    momentarily to wiggle their bodies, causing waves
    of muscle contraction that advance from the lower
    torso to the head. By compressing the veins and
    forcing blood forward, these contractions
    apparently improve the flow of venous blood
    returning to the heart.

    Refer to the highlighted sections.
    In vertical snakes, distance between head and heart is 15% of body length.
    In sea snakes, distance between head and heart is 50% of body length.

    Hope that helps!

    ronnie1985 GMAT Destroyer!
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    Post Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:58 am
    (B) QED

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    vabhs192003 Rising GMAT Star
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    Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:14 am
    Quote:
    But I cannot understand where in the passage it states that the heart of sea snakes is located at the midpoint of their body?
    It seems you are looking for a reference in regarding to sea snakes, while in the question terrestrial snakes are subject, about which para 2 covers covers the points to answer the question.

    Thanks

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