Reading Passage Question
Insect-eating bats rely heavily on echolocation, a method of sensory perception by which certain animals orient themselves to their surroundings, detect obstacles, communicate with others, and find food. While using echolocation, these bats emit a series of short, high-frequency sounds from their mouths or nostrils that bounce off objects and surfaces and then return to the animals’ ears. Since high-frequency waves do not diffract, or bend, extensively, these ultrasonic vibrations provide bats with accurate maps of their surroundings. The biosonar of some bats is so advanced that it allows them to fly in complete darkness, snatch moving insects out of the air, or hover just above water level to drink.
For years, scientists have been aware that bats emit slightly different frequencies in differing situations. Recent research has provided insight into how certain physical features help bats use this variability to differentiate among objects in their environments. Many species of bats have elaborate, intricately shaped flaps, or noseleaves, around their nostrils that are adorned with grooves and spikes. Three-dimensional computer simulations of these noseleaves revealed that furrows along the top of the noseleaves act as cavities that resonate strongly with certain frequencies of sound. As a result, the grooves cause different frequencies of sound to discharge in different directions. Lower frequency sounds are spread more vertically, while higher frequency sounds emit more horizontally. The complexity the nose leaves add to the bats’ ultrasound perception could help the bats perform difficult tasks, such as locating prey while avoiding obstacles.
“Insect-eating bats rely heavily on echolocation, a method of sensory perception”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- Which of the following best describes the relation of the second paragraph to the first paragraph?
(A) The second paragraph discounts the complexity of a process that is revealed in the first paragraph.
(B) The second paragraph clarifies a debate over a biological system that is discussed in the first paragraph.
(C) The second paragraph illuminates the intricacies of a method that is introduced in the first paragraph.
(D) The second paragraph explains the results of a hypothesis that is expressed in the first paragraph.
(E) The second paragraph describes the function of a physical feature that is mentioned in the first paragraph.
Answer: C
Explanation: In the first paragraph we are introduced to the definition of echolocation which is used by insect eating bats. Echolocation is the process by which they use their sensory perception to orient or position themselves in front of the obstruction. They emit high frequency waves that do not diffract, or bend and provide an accurate map of the bat’s surroundings. Position them in front of their obstruction or prey. This is how some bats are able to fly in complete darkness. In the second paragraph it is said that the scientists knew that bats have been using this technique for a long time. What they have recently discovered is that many bats have elaborate intricate flaps, or noseleaves, surrounding their nostrils that also have grooves and spikes. Some three dimensional computer simulations of the nose leaves have shown that furrows along the top of the nose acts as a cavity to resonate with a certain frequency. The groove discharges different frequencies in different directions.
- Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion concerning the purpose of bats’ noseleaves?
(A) The range of frequencies that bats hear is much smaller than the range of frequencies that bats emit.
(B) Many bats emit echolocation sounds through their mouths rather than through their noses.
(C) Dolphins rely on echolocation, and they do not have noseleaves.
(D) When their food sources are stationary, some bats rely on eyesight and smell rather than echolocation.
(E) The sound waves emitted during echolocation are limited to a range of fewer than one hundred feet.
Answer: A
Explanation: The bats use their nose leaves to emit frequencies both high and low to understand the surroundings better. The information they receive back as a form of another frequency helps them to stay alert and have a better gasp of their surroundings. In this answer option, it is mentioned that bats are receiving only a portion of the frequency that they are emitting. The nose leaves precisely help the bats to receive intricate. Difficult information like if there are any obstacles in the path and help them to catch hold of the insects if any. Through the nose leaves they are able to send out frequency to each and every direction and receive the information likewise. The sound waves emitted bounces back after hitting the object and likewise help bats to understand their immediate surroundings better. But sometimes they might skip vital information like the sudden action of a fan blade coming in front of a bat which can cause its effective death.
- Which of the following can properly be inferred from the passage?
(A) The sound waves a bat emits during echolocation only travel parallel or perpendicular to the bat's motion.
(B) The spikes found on bats’ nose leaves are rarely utilized during echolocation.
(C) Many insect-eating bats do not possess a well-developed sense of sight.
(D) Low-frequency sound waves diffract less extensively than high-frequency sound waves.
(E) During echolocation, bats do not rely on low-frequency sound waves.
Answer: E
Explanation: In the passage’s first paragraph it is mentioned. The bats use echolocation through which they are able to locate their prey or if there are any obstacles on its pathway. The bats emit a high frequency through which they are able to function this way. They are able to do this because the high frequency waves do not break or distract from the way. As a result, they provide an accurate map of their surroundings. The high frequency sounds are emitted by their nostrils or mouths. They bounce back and reflect back to their ears. The scientists are convinced that the bats use different frequencies for different locations. They are also using low frequency for different situations but this does not mean that they use extremely low frequency. What the point wants to clarify is that the bats use frequencies which are slightly different and still in the range of high frequency. The variation in the sound waves is very slight.
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