Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumCross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis

Text 1
Biologist Masanori Kohda's 2019 study demonstrated that cleaner wrasse fish passed the mirror self-recognition (MSR) test. When marked with a colored gel on their throats, the fish scraped their bodies against substrate after viewing their reflections. Kohda argues that this mark-directed behavior indicates that self-awareness is not restricted to large-brained mammals but is shared by teleost fish.

Text 2
Cognitive scientist Sarah Beck cautions against overinterpreting mark-scraping behaviors in MSR tests. She points out that cleaner wrasse are highly sensitive to ectoparasites and frequently scrape themselves against rocks to dislodge them. The visual stimulus of a throat mark might simply trigger a hardwired motor response rather than reflecting a cognitive concept of self-identity. Thus, passing the test does not confirm self-consciousness in fish.

Based on the passages, how would Beck (Text 2) most likely respond to Kohda's interpretation of the fish's behavior (Text 1)?

  1. A
    By agreeing that the fish's scraping behavior demonstrates a sophisticated cognitive understanding of their own reflections.
  2. B
    By asserting that cleaner wrasse fish lack the sensory capacity to detect parasites on their bodies.
  3. By arguing that the mark-directed behavior may be an instinctual reaction to a visual stimulus rather than evidence of self-awareness.Answer
  4. D
    By claiming that the fish would not have scraped their throats if the gel mark had been a color they could not perceive.

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that Beck would respond by arguing that the mark-directed behavior may be an instinctual reaction to a visual stimulus rather than evidence of self-awareness.
The correct answer describes how Beck would respond to Kohda's interpretation by offering an alternative, instinctual explanation for the fish's actions. In Text 2, Beck explains that cleaner wrasse naturally scrape themselves to dislodge parasites and argues that the mirror mark may simply trigger this hardwired motor reflex, meaning that the test results do not confirm self-consciousness in fish.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Text 1 to identify the main finding and Kohda's interpretation.
Kohda observed that cleaner wrasse scrape their bodies after seeing a gel mark on themselves in a mirror, concluding that this demonstrates self-awareness in fish.
Understanding the first author's perspective is necessary to evaluate the second author's counter-response.
2
Analyze Text 2 to identify Beck's stance on the MSR test results for cleaner wrasse.
Beck argues that the scraping is a natural behavior used to remove parasites and could be a hardwired reflex triggered by the visual stimulus of the mark, rather than cognitive self-awareness.
Determining how the second text addresses the evidence or conclusion of the first text establishes the relational link.
3
Synthesize the relationship to identify how Beck would characterize or respond to Kohda's claim.
Beck would respond by pointing out that the scraping behavior has an alternative, simpler explanation (an instinctual reflex to a visual stimulus) and therefore does not support the claim of self-awareness.
This synthesis directly aligns with the option stating that the behavior may be an instinctual reaction rather than evidence of self-awareness.

Key Concept

Cross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Cross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis

More questions from this topic