The chemical adenosine is released by brain cells when those

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The chemical adenosine is released by brain cells when those cells are active. Adenosine then binds to more and more sites on cells in certain areas of the brain, as the total amount released gradually increases during wakefulness. During sleep, the number of sites to which adenosine is bound decreases. Some researchers have hypothesized that it is the cumulative binding of adenosine to a large number of sites that causes the onset of sleep.

Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the researchers' hypothesis?

A. Even after long periods of sleep when adenosine is at its lowest concentration in the brain, the number of brain cells bound with adenosine remains very large.

B. Caffeine, which has the effect of making people remain wakeful, is known to interfere with the binding of adenosine to sites on brain cells.

C. Besides binding to sites in the brain, adenosine is known to be involved in biochemical reactions throughout the body.

D. Some areas of the brain that are relatively inactive nonetheless release some adenosine.

E. Stress resulting from a dangerous situation can preserve wakefulness even when brain levels of bound adenosine are high.

[spoiler]OA: I tried to solve the above problem in the following manner-

We need to strengthen the scientists hypothesis i.e conclusion that "it is the cumulative binding of adenosine to a large number of sites that causes the onset of sleep." which means we need to strengthen that "cumulative binding of adenosine to a large number of sites that brings sleep in an individual"

I rejected option B because I felt it was weakening the hypothesis i.e it meant that caffeine interferes in producing adenosine,therefore, there would be low number of binding and due to low number of binding produced it won't bring sleep in an individual.

But answer is option B :-([/spoiler]
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by VivianKerr » Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:52 am
Hypothesis: Cumulative A to many sites = onset of sleep

Evidence: A released by active brain cumulatively as awake; # of sites decreases when asleep.

Question Rephrase: what STRENGTHENS the hypothesis?

Prediction: Evidence of a "threshold" where a certain amount of A = sleep.

We can quickly eliminate C, D, and E as irrelevant to the argument. Let's rephrase A and B.

A - Helps prove that adenosine KEEPS people asleep and refers to the many sites in hypothesis.
B - Helps prove that adenosine may CAUSE sleep by showing that people are generally more awake when adenosine is suppressed.

Even though A at first appears to be more relevant, IMO the answer is B.

The focus of the hypothesis is the onset of sleep. A just doesn't relate to that. So how could it strengthen?

[spoiler]Your logic is correct, but I think you just got a little confused. If CAFFEINE = LESS ADENOSINE = NO SLEEP, then it's logical to assume that ADENOSINE = SLEEP. [/spoiler] The focus of the hypothesis is indeed on the bringing of sleep, which A does not specifically address.
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by aspirant2011 » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:13 am
VivianKerr wrote:Hypothesis: Cumulative A to many sites = onset of sleep

Evidence: A released by active brain cumulatively as awake; # of sites decreases when asleep.

Question Rephrase: what STRENGTHENS the hypothesis?

Prediction: Evidence of a "threshold" where a certain amount of A = sleep.

We can quickly eliminate C, D, and E as irrelevant to the argument. Let's rephrase A and B.

A - Helps prove that adenosine KEEPS people asleep and refers to the many sites in hypothesis.
B - Helps prove that adenosine may CAUSE sleep by showing that people are generally more awake when adenosine is suppressed.

Even though A at first appears to be more relevant, IMO the answer is B.

The focus of the hypothesis is the onset of sleep. A just doesn't relate to that. So how could it strengthen?

[spoiler]Your logic is correct, but I think you just got a little confused. If CAFFEINE = LESS ADENOSINE = NO SLEEP, then it's logical to assume that ADENOSINE = SLEEP. [/spoiler] The focus of the hypothesis is indeed on the bringing of sleep, which A does not specifically address.
thanks a lot Vivian :-)

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by VivianKerr » Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:37 am
No prob! Keep on chuggin'- you're doing great!
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by vikram4689 » Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:10 pm
A directly contradicts with the premise "During sleep, the number of sites to which adenosine is bound decreases" Hence it cannot strengthen
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by ashg84 » Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:08 pm
IMO - B
As mentioned earlier, C D E are out of scope
Choice A is wrong because to strengthen the argument, statement need to support the fact that binding of Andsine led to onset of sleep. Choice A does not support this fact..

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by tanviet » Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:57 am
it take me long time to get this correct. 2,45 minutes, because the argument is complex and take more time to understand the logical structure.

more binding more sleep-------> binding cause sleep. this diagram takes me more time to make though it is simple.

however complex argument is,only the evidence is complex, the conclusion is alway one simple sentence.

this turn out to be causal argument.

prethink an assumption: no other cause.

going to answer choices. B matche.

pls, comment on my process of doing this question. Thank you.

do you have any suggestion for time ? I can not reduce the time