Passage I

An endocrinologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats patients with hormone imbalances. There are many hormones involved in daily functioning. Two of the most important hormones for digestion are insulin and glucagon. These hormones are secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is released after a meal to help body cells take in sugar and covert it to energy. Glucagon is released when the body needs more energy, such as during exercise, and causes body cells to secrete sugar into the blood. A team of endocrinologists performed the following experiments:

Experiment 1

Five participants were given 15 grams of pure glucose (sugar). The participants had not eaten for four hours prior to the experiment. All five participants were healthy and had no serious medical conditions. A team of endocrinologists monitored the blood sugar and insulin levels of the participants over time. Figure 1 is a graph of the average levels in the five participants.

Experiment 2

Two participants were given 15 grams of pure glucose (sugar). The participants had not eaten for four hours prior to the experiment. One participant was healthy and the other had a hormone disease. Figure 2 is a graph of the blood sugar levels of the participants over time.

Which of the following patients should go see an endocrinologist?

Passage I

An endocrinologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats patients with hormone imbalances. There are many hormones involved in daily functioning. Two of the most important hormones for digestion are insulin and glucagon. These hormones are secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is released after a meal to help body cells take in sugar and covert it to energy. Glucagon is released when the body needs more energy, such as during exercise, and causes body cells to secrete sugar into the blood. A team of endocrinologists performed the following experiments:

Experiment 1

Five participants were given 15 grams of pure glucose (sugar). The participants had not eaten for four hours prior to the experiment. All five participants were healthy and had no serious medical conditions. A team of endocrinologists monitored the blood sugar and insulin levels of the participants over time. Figure 1 is a graph of the average levels in the five participants.

Experiment 2

Two participants were given 15 grams of pure glucose (sugar). The participants had not eaten for four hours prior to the experiment. One participant was healthy and the other had a hormone disease. Figure 2 is a graph of the blood sugar levels of the participants over time.

Who would an endocrinologist most likely work closely with?

     Invasive species lack the natural competitors in a given area to properly regulate population growth and development. Myriophyllum spicatum is a Eurasian milfoil. It was first used in the United States as an aesthetic for aquatic fish tanks. Later, it was accidentally introduced into local ponds and lakes where it became a dominant invasive species and has began to choke out native and naturally occurring plant life. To make matters worse, phosphorus-rich fertilizers and cleaners have contaminated many freshwater biomes due to runoff and pollution. As a result, many standing freshwater pools contain heavy amounts of phosphorus. These species readily utilize the phosphorus and have become nearly unmanageable. Two ecologists express their views on how to control the invasive population.

Ecologist 1

     The best way to control the problem is to limit the nutrients in the biome. If the nutrients are controlled then the plants will be unable to grow and flourish. After several generations, the nutrients will be depleted and the plant species will become more manageable or disappear altogether.

Ecologist 2

     The best way to control the vegetation would be to physically cut and remove it from the biome. Seasonal cuttings would minimize the population and decrease reproductive success. Furthermore, any nutrients contained in the decomposing plant litter would be removed with the waste. Therefore, after several sweeps the plants would be removed altogether.

Ecologist 2's solution was utilized because it was more cost effective. After several generations the invasive species was under control. However, the next season it grew back. How would Ecologist 1 explain this phenomenon?

     Invasive species lack the natural competitors in a given area to properly regulate population growth and development. Myriophyllum spicatum is a Eurasian milfoil. It was first used in the United States as an aesthetic for aquatic fish tanks. Later, it was accidentally introduced into local ponds and lakes where it became a dominant invasive species and has began to choke out native and naturally occurring plant life. To make matters worse, phosphorus-rich fertilizers and cleaners have contaminated many freshwater biomes due to runoff and pollution. As a result, many standing freshwater pools contain heavy amounts of phosphorus. These species readily utilize the phosphorus and have become nearly unmanageable. Two ecologists express their views on how to control the invasive population.

Ecologist 1

     The best way to control the problem is to limit the nutrients in the biome. If the nutrients are controlled then the plants will be unable to grow and flourish. After several generations, the nutrients will be depleted and the plant species will become more manageable or disappear altogether.

Ecologist 2

     The best way to control the vegetation would be to physically cut and remove it from the biome. Seasonal cuttings would minimize the population and decrease reproductive success. Furthermore, any nutrients contained in the decomposing plant litter would be removed with the waste. Therefore, after several sweeps the plants would be removed altogether.

A japanese beetle is accidentally released into the biome. It feeds on the plant and controls its population. This provides evidence for which ecologist's theory?

     Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) is a process utilized to obtain natural gas from the ground. Operators drill deep down into fragile shale rock and pump a specialized mixture of chemical fluids into the well. The fluids increase the pressure inside the well and cause the shale to fracture. As the shale rocks fracture, fissures of natural gas are released from pockets within the earth. After the fluid has been pushed into the system, the natural gas is released through the drilled well and collected at the rig site on ground level. This fairly new and innovative process has yielded promising results and has created great controversy. Two scientists express their views on the hydraulic fracturing industry.

Study 1

     A study was completed in order to measure the amount of methane released at an individual fracking rig. The scientist places an apparatus on the rig that measures the amount of methane released into the atmosphere in a 16-month period. The data is located in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Study 2

     A researcher studies gaseous emissions in relation to global climate change. Global warming potential is the amount of energy that a gas absorbs over a 100-year period when compared to carbon dioxide. Through numerous studies, the researcher determines that methane has a global warming potential of 21 meaning that it will cause 21 times more warming over a 100-year period than an equivalent mass of carbon dioxide.

Why are fluids added to the well during the hydraulic fracturing process?

     Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) is a process utilized to obtain natural gas from the ground. Operators drill deep down into fragile shale rock and pump a specialized mixture of chemical fluids into the well. The fluids increase the pressure inside the well and cause the shale to fracture. As the shale rocks fracture, fissures of natural gas are released from pockets within the earth. After the fluid has been pushed into the system, the natural gas is released through the drilled well and collected at the rig site on ground level. This fairly new and innovative process has yielded promising results and has created great controversy. Two scientists express their views on the hydraulic fracturing industry.

Study 1

     A study was completed in order to measure the amount of methane released at an individual fracking rig. The scientist places an apparatus on the rig that measures the amount of methane released into the atmosphere in a 16-month period. The data is located in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Study 2

     A researcher studies gaseous emissions in relation to global climate change. Global warming potential is the amount of energy that a gas absorbs over a 100-year period when compared to carbon dioxide. Through numerous studies, the researcher determines that methane has a global warming potential of 21 meaning that it will cause 21 times more warming over a 100-year period than an equivalent mass of carbon dioxide.

The researchers of Study 2 investigate the results of Study 1. Which of the following statements would best represent their conclusions?

Mimicry is an important long-term evolutionary survival adaptation. In nature, there are four main types of mimicry used by species to enhance their survival. Batesian mimicry occurs when a palatable species closely resembles an unpalatable one. Müllerian mimicry exists when several unpalatable species resemble one another. Mertensian mimicry occurs when a deadly predator mimics a less dangerous one. Last, crypsis is the result of camouflage that enables a species to closely resemble its environment.

Certain scientific studies have revealed that the toxic coral snake mimics the milk snake. This evidence suggests that the coral snake exhibits which type of mimicry?

Mimicry is an important long-term evolutionary survival adaptation. In nature, there are four main types of mimicry used by species to enhance their survival. Batesian mimicry occurs when a palatable species closely resembles an unpalatable one. Müllerian mimicry exists when several unpalatable species resemble one another. Mertensian mimicry occurs when a deadly predator mimics a less dangerous one. Last, crypsis is the result of camouflage that enables a species to closely resemble its environment.

Two relatively harmless species of toads share the same physical structure and coloration pattern. These toads best exhibit which type of mimicry?

Mimicry is an important long-term evolutionary survival adaptation. In nature, there are four main types of mimicry used by species to enhance their survival. Batesian mimicry occurs when a palatable species closely resembles an unpalatable one. Müllerian mimicry exists when several unpalatable species resemble one another. Mertensian mimicry occurs when a deadly predator mimics a less dangerous one. Last, crypsis is the result of camouflage that enables a species to closely resemble its environment.

A certain fly shares striking similarities in physical structure and coloration to a deadly hornet species. This fly exhibits what type of mimicry?

Mimicry is an important long-term evolutionary survival adaptation. In nature, there are four main types of mimicry used by species to enhance their survival. Batesian mimicry occurs when a palatable species closely resembles an unpalatable one. Müllerian mimicry exists when several unpalatable species resemble one another. Mertensian mimicry occurs when a deadly predator mimics a less dangerous one. Last, crypsis is the result of camouflage that enables a species to closely resemble its environment.

Members of the phasmatodea family of insects resemble small branches of local foliage in their environments. This is an example of which type of mimicry?