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David@VeritasPrep
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Here is an LSAT passage for you to try. This passage has 6 questions, which is as many as you would see on any GMAT passage and it is as long as any GMAT passage. It is also quite dense. Passages like this can help you prepare for the tough new passages that are appearing on the GMAT (many that are tougher than what is in the OG).
This is the second LSAT passage I have posted. The first one is at this link. https://www.beatthegmat.com/lsat-reading ... 71360.html
Also, please see this discussion of using the LSAT to study for the GMAT reading comp. https://www.beatthegmat.com/lsat-to-stud ... tml#322872
Source: December 2001 LSAT Test, Section 2, questions 15 - 20. I found the passage in "The Next 10 Actual, Official PrepTests" LSAC, 2004 (p. 258).
I will post a thorough discussion of this passage below.
"Discussions of how hormones influence behavior
have generally been limited to the effects of gonadal
hormones on reproductive behavior and have
emphasized the parsimonious arrangement whereby the
(5) same hormones involved in the biology of reproduction
also influence sexual behavior. It has now become
clear, however, that other hormones, in addition to their
recognized influence on biological functions, can affect
behavior. Specifically, peptide and steroid hormones
(10) involved in maintaining the physiological balance, or
homeostasis, of body fluids also appear to play an
important role in the control of water and salt
consumption. The phenomenon of homeostasis in
animals depends on various mechanisms that promote
(15) stability within the organism despite an inconstant
external environment; the homeostasis of body fluids,
whereby the osmolality (the concentration of solutes)
of blood plasma is closely regulated, is achieved
primarily through alterations in the intake and
(20) excretion of water and sodium, the two principal
components of the fluid matrix that surrounds body
cells. Appropriate compensatory responses are initiated
when deviations from normal are quite small, thereby
maintaining plasma osmolality within relatively narrow
(25) ranges.
In the osmoregulation of body fluids, the
movement of water across cell membranes permits
minor fluctuations in the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid to be buffered by corresponding
(30) changes in the relatively larger volume of cellular
water. Nevertheless, the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid may at times become elevated or
reduced by more than the allowed tolerances of one or
two percent. It is then that complementary
(35) physiological and behavioral responses come into play
to restore plasma osmolality to normal. Thus, for
example, a decrease in plasma osmolality, such as that
which occurs after the consumption of water in excess
of need, leads to the excretion of surplus body water in
(40) the urine by inhibiting secretion from the pituitary
gland of vasopressin, a peptide hormone that promotes
water conservation in the kidneys. As might be
expected, thirst also is inhibited then, to prevent further
dilution of body fluids. Conversely, an increase in
(45) plasma osmolality, such as that which occurs after one
eats salty foods or after body water evaporates without
being replaced, stimulates the release of vasopressin,
increasing the conservation of water and the excretion
of solutes in urine. This process is accompanied by
(50) increased thirst, with the result of making plasma
osmolality more dilute through the consumption of
water. The threshold for thirst appears to be slightly
higher than for vasopressin secretion, so that thirst is
stimulated only after vasopressin has been released in
(55) amounts sufficient to produce maximal water retention
by the kidneys-that is, only after osmotic dehydration
exceeds the capacity of the animal to deal with it
physiologically.
15. Which one of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
(A) Both the solute concentration and the volume of
an animal's blood plasma must be kept within
relatively narrow ranges.
(B) Behavioral responses to changes in an animal's
blood plasma can compensate for physiological
malfunction, allowing the body to avoid
dehydration.
(C) The effect of hormones on animal behavior and
physiology has only recently been discovered.
(D) Behavioral and physiological responses to major
changes in osmolality of an animal's blood
plasma are hormonally influenced and
complement one another.
(E) The mechanisms regulating reproduction are
similar to those that regulate thirst and sodium
appetite.
16. The author of the passage cites the relationship between
gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in order to
(A) review briefly the history of research into the
relationships between gonadal and peptide
hormones that has led to the present discussion
(B) decry the fact that previous research has
concentrated on the relatively minor issue of the
relationships between hormones and behavior
(C) establish the emphasis of earlier research into the
connections between hormones and behavior
before elaborating on the results described in the
passage
(D) introduce a commonly held misconception about
the relationships between hormones and
behavior before refuting it with the results
described in the passage
(E) summarize the main findings of recent research
described in the passage before detailing the
various procedures that led to those findings
17. It can be inferred from the passage that which one of the
following is true of vasopressin?
(A) The amount secreted depends on the level of
steroid hormones in the blood.
(B) The amount secreted is important for maintaining
homeostasis in cases of both increased and
decreased osmolality.
(C) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in
increasing plasma volume.
(D) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in
regulating sodium appetite.
(E) It is secreted after an animal becomes thirsty, as a
mechanism for diluting plasma osmolality.
18. The primary function of the passage as a whole is to
(A) present new information
(B) question standard assumptions
(C) reinterpret earlier findings
(D) advocate a novel theory
(E) outline a new approach
19. According to the passage, all of the following typically
occur in the homeostasis of blood-plasma osmolality
EXCEPT:
(A) Hunger is diminished.
(B) Thirst is initiated.
(C) Vasopressin is secreted.
(D) Water is excreted.
(E) Sodium is consumed.
20. According to the passage, the withholding of vasopressin
fulfills which one of the following functions in the
restoration of plasma osmolality to normal levels?
(A) It increases thirst and stimulates sodium appetite.
(B) It helps prevent further dilution of body fluids.
(C) It increases the conservation of water in the
kidneys.
(D) It causes minor changes in plasma volume.
(E) It helps stimulate the secretion of steroid
hormones.
OAs
[spoiler]
15. D
16. C
17. B
18. A
19. A
20. B[/spoiler]
This is the second LSAT passage I have posted. The first one is at this link. https://www.beatthegmat.com/lsat-reading ... 71360.html
Also, please see this discussion of using the LSAT to study for the GMAT reading comp. https://www.beatthegmat.com/lsat-to-stud ... tml#322872
Source: December 2001 LSAT Test, Section 2, questions 15 - 20. I found the passage in "The Next 10 Actual, Official PrepTests" LSAC, 2004 (p. 258).
I will post a thorough discussion of this passage below.
"Discussions of how hormones influence behavior
have generally been limited to the effects of gonadal
hormones on reproductive behavior and have
emphasized the parsimonious arrangement whereby the
(5) same hormones involved in the biology of reproduction
also influence sexual behavior. It has now become
clear, however, that other hormones, in addition to their
recognized influence on biological functions, can affect
behavior. Specifically, peptide and steroid hormones
(10) involved in maintaining the physiological balance, or
homeostasis, of body fluids also appear to play an
important role in the control of water and salt
consumption. The phenomenon of homeostasis in
animals depends on various mechanisms that promote
(15) stability within the organism despite an inconstant
external environment; the homeostasis of body fluids,
whereby the osmolality (the concentration of solutes)
of blood plasma is closely regulated, is achieved
primarily through alterations in the intake and
(20) excretion of water and sodium, the two principal
components of the fluid matrix that surrounds body
cells. Appropriate compensatory responses are initiated
when deviations from normal are quite small, thereby
maintaining plasma osmolality within relatively narrow
(25) ranges.
In the osmoregulation of body fluids, the
movement of water across cell membranes permits
minor fluctuations in the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid to be buffered by corresponding
(30) changes in the relatively larger volume of cellular
water. Nevertheless, the concentration of solutes in
extracellular fluid may at times become elevated or
reduced by more than the allowed tolerances of one or
two percent. It is then that complementary
(35) physiological and behavioral responses come into play
to restore plasma osmolality to normal. Thus, for
example, a decrease in plasma osmolality, such as that
which occurs after the consumption of water in excess
of need, leads to the excretion of surplus body water in
(40) the urine by inhibiting secretion from the pituitary
gland of vasopressin, a peptide hormone that promotes
water conservation in the kidneys. As might be
expected, thirst also is inhibited then, to prevent further
dilution of body fluids. Conversely, an increase in
(45) plasma osmolality, such as that which occurs after one
eats salty foods or after body water evaporates without
being replaced, stimulates the release of vasopressin,
increasing the conservation of water and the excretion
of solutes in urine. This process is accompanied by
(50) increased thirst, with the result of making plasma
osmolality more dilute through the consumption of
water. The threshold for thirst appears to be slightly
higher than for vasopressin secretion, so that thirst is
stimulated only after vasopressin has been released in
(55) amounts sufficient to produce maximal water retention
by the kidneys-that is, only after osmotic dehydration
exceeds the capacity of the animal to deal with it
physiologically.
15. Which one of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
(A) Both the solute concentration and the volume of
an animal's blood plasma must be kept within
relatively narrow ranges.
(B) Behavioral responses to changes in an animal's
blood plasma can compensate for physiological
malfunction, allowing the body to avoid
dehydration.
(C) The effect of hormones on animal behavior and
physiology has only recently been discovered.
(D) Behavioral and physiological responses to major
changes in osmolality of an animal's blood
plasma are hormonally influenced and
complement one another.
(E) The mechanisms regulating reproduction are
similar to those that regulate thirst and sodium
appetite.
16. The author of the passage cites the relationship between
gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in order to
(A) review briefly the history of research into the
relationships between gonadal and peptide
hormones that has led to the present discussion
(B) decry the fact that previous research has
concentrated on the relatively minor issue of the
relationships between hormones and behavior
(C) establish the emphasis of earlier research into the
connections between hormones and behavior
before elaborating on the results described in the
passage
(D) introduce a commonly held misconception about
the relationships between hormones and
behavior before refuting it with the results
described in the passage
(E) summarize the main findings of recent research
described in the passage before detailing the
various procedures that led to those findings
17. It can be inferred from the passage that which one of the
following is true of vasopressin?
(A) The amount secreted depends on the level of
steroid hormones in the blood.
(B) The amount secreted is important for maintaining
homeostasis in cases of both increased and
decreased osmolality.
(C) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in
increasing plasma volume.
(D) It works in conjunction with steroid hormones in
regulating sodium appetite.
(E) It is secreted after an animal becomes thirsty, as a
mechanism for diluting plasma osmolality.
18. The primary function of the passage as a whole is to
(A) present new information
(B) question standard assumptions
(C) reinterpret earlier findings
(D) advocate a novel theory
(E) outline a new approach
19. According to the passage, all of the following typically
occur in the homeostasis of blood-plasma osmolality
EXCEPT:
(A) Hunger is diminished.
(B) Thirst is initiated.
(C) Vasopressin is secreted.
(D) Water is excreted.
(E) Sodium is consumed.
20. According to the passage, the withholding of vasopressin
fulfills which one of the following functions in the
restoration of plasma osmolality to normal levels?
(A) It increases thirst and stimulates sodium appetite.
(B) It helps prevent further dilution of body fluids.
(C) It increases the conservation of water in the
kidneys.
(D) It causes minor changes in plasma volume.
(E) It helps stimulate the secretion of steroid
hormones.
OAs
[spoiler]
15. D
16. C
17. B
18. A
19. A
20. B[/spoiler]
