Reading Passage Question
Visual recognition involves storing and retrieving memories. Neural activity, triggered by the eye, forms an image in the brain's memory system that constitutes an internal representation of the viewed object. When an object is encountered again, it is matched with its internal representation and thereby recognized. Controversy surrounds the question of whether recognition is a parallel, one-step process or a serial, step-by-step one. Psychologists of the Gestalt school maintain that objects are recognized as wholes in a parallel procedure: the internal representation is matched with the retinal image in a single operation. Other psychologists have proposed that internal representation features are matched serially with an object's features. Although some experiments show that, as an object becomes familiar, its internal representation becomes more holistic and the recognition process correspondingly more parallel, the weight of evidence seems to support the serial hypothesis, at least for objects that are not notably simple and familiar.
“Visual recognition involves storing and retrieving memories”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grasp on English GMAT reading comprehension. There are six comprehension questions in this GMAT Reading Comprehension section. GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed to evaluate candidates' abilities to comprehend, analyze, and apply information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- The author is primarily concerned with
(A) explaining how the brain receives images
(B) synthesizing hypotheses of visual recognition
(C) examining the evidence supporting the serial recognition hypothesis
(D) discussing visual recognition and some hypotheses proposed to explain it
(E) reporting on recent experiments dealing with memory systems and their relationship to neural activity
Answer: D
Explanation: The fourth option is the right answer. This is due to the fact that the passage starts off by talking about visual recognition and proceeds discussing the parallel and serial recognition hypotheses. The rest of the options are all wrong answers. The first two options mentioned in the passage, are not talked about in the entire passage. The third option has distorted information from the passage while the final option is also the same.
- According to the passage, Gestalt psychologists make which of the following suppositions about visual recognition?
- A retinal image is in exactly the same form as its internal representation.
- An object is recognized as a whole without any need for analysis into component parts.
- The matching of an object with its internal representation occurs in only one step.
(A) II only
(B) III only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
Answer: D
Explanation: The first statement is wrong because the passage only discusses the matching process and not the actual images. The second statement is correct because the passage claims that Gestalt school psychologists maintain that objects are recognised as whole. The third statement is also correct because the passage claims that the retinal image and internal representation are matched in a single operation. The fourth option has both these correct statements and is therefore the right option.
- It can be inferred from the passage that the matching process in visual recognition is
(A) not a neural activity
(B) not possible when an object is viewed for the very first time
(C) not possible if a feature of a familiar object is changed in some way
(D) only possible when a retinal image is received in the brain as a unitary whole
(E) now fully understood as a combination of the serial and parallel processes
Answer: B
Explanation: The third option is the right answer. According to the passage, when neural activity is stimulated by the eye a crucial process happens. It creates an image in the brain's memory system that serves as an internal representation of the object being viewed. When an object is seen again, it is recognised by being compared to its internal representation. There won't be any internal representation to compare with when an object is first encountered.
- In terms of its tone and form, the passage can best be characterized as
(A) a biased exposition
(B) a speculative study
(C) a dispassionate presentation
(D) an indignant denial
(E) a dogmatic explanation
Answer: C
Explanation: The first option is invalid because the passage discusses both points of view fairly and thus cannot be considered biased. The second option is invalid because the passage discusses scientific hypotheses, evidence, and experiments, and thus cannot be regarded as speculative. The fourth option is invalid because nothing is denied and the author does not appear to be indignant. The final option is also invalid because the author appears to disregard established rules. Therefore, the third option is the right answer.
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