Re: Although pathogenic organisms constantly alight on the skin, they find
[#permalink]
04 Jun 2020, 04:11
(1) The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) offer an analysis of metabolic processes - the passage does not discuss any metabolic process in detail.
(B) detail the ways in which bacteria and fungi can be inhibited - not discussed in the passage.
(C) describe mechanisms by which the skin protects itself against pathogens - the first paragraph introduces the “self-sterilizing” capacity of the skin, while the second paragraph describes how the skin protects itself. hence, (C) is the right answer choice
(D) analyze the methods whereby biological systems maintain the status quo - this is a very broad conclusion. The passage relates only the skin to 'status quo', not the entire classification of biological systems.
(E) provide a specific example of the skin’s basic defenses against pathogens - the passage does not provide ''one'' specific example; instead, the passage lists ''several'' examples of the skin’s basic defenses against pathogens.
(2) The “resident flora” mentioned in line 16 refer to
Flora refers to something that is living. since (A), (B), and (E) are not living in nature, we can eliminate (A), (B), and (E)
If we go on to read the second paragraph, we get to understand that the fatty acids inhibit the growth of several bacterial and fungal cutaneous pathogens; These acids are a metabolic product of certain gram-positive members of the cutaneous community. Hence, it is these certain gram-positive members that create the fatty acids. Hence, the ''flora'' must refer to these "certain gram-positive members". This is what we have in (D)
(D) “certain gram-positive members of the cutaneous community” (lines 21-22)
Hence, (D) is the right answer choice.
(3) Among the natural defenses of the skin against pathogenic organisms are all of the following EXCEPT the
(A) dryness of the skin - indicated by the word "arid" in paragraph 2
(B) acidity of the skin - indicated by the phrase "the skin is too acid" in paragraph 2
(C) tendency of the pathogens toward homeostasis - not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Hence, (C) is the right answer to this EXCEPT question.
(D) shedding of surface layers of the skin - indicated by the sentence "The constant shedding of the surface skin layers further hinders the establishment of invaders." in paragraph 2
(E) metabolic breakdown of lipids - can be inferred from the last two sentences of paragraph 2
(4) The author presents her material in which of the following ways?
The author presents the "self sterilizing" phenomena of the skin in the first paragraph. She then goes on to further explain/provide examples of this phenomena in the second paragraph. This is accurately described in (B).
(B) Presenting a phenomenon and then analyzing reason for it
Hence, (B) is the right answer choice.