Set 9: Cross-Text Connections (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
Text 1 Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. It allows neurons to compensate for injury and adjust their activities in response to new situations or changes in the environment. Text 2 While beneficial for learning and recovery, plasticity has a 'dark side'. Maladaptive plasticity can lead to phantom limb pain or ingrained bad habits. The same mechanism that allows us to learn the violin can also wire the brain for chronic pain or addiction.
What duality of neuroplasticity do the texts collectively present?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks you to compare perspectives from two passages. Text 1: Beneficial (Recovery/Learning). Text 2: Dark side (Pain/Addiction). Duality: Neutral mechanism, pos/neg outcomes. Understanding how the authors relate to each other's views is essential. Identify whether they agree, disagree, or address different aspects of the topic. Focus on their specific claims and conclusions. When comparing texts, first identify each author's thesis or main argument. Then determine how these positions interact: do they complement each other, contradict each other, or address different aspects of the same issue? The relationship between texts reveals deeper meaning.
Key Evidence:
• "beneficial"
• "plasticity has a 'dark side'"
• "same mechanism"
Why others are wrong: A (Not mentioned.), B (Text 1.), D (Text 2.).
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