Page 110 - 3 STEPS YDT ENGLISH

ENGLISH 3 STEP
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It is a scientifically proven fact that a very restricted environment When we think about ‘old’, dinosaurs are probably the first things
hinders the development or maintenance of normal activities. This that spring to mind; however, scorpions are believed to have come
may raise the question: does an environment enriched with a wide into existence long before dinosaurs, which means they have
range of motion and sensory experiences promote development? been roaming on earth for more than 400 million years. Taking the
To answer this question, Donald Olding Hebb, considered to be the amount of time they have had to develop into consideration, there
father of neuropsychology, prepared an experiment. Two groups of must be hundreds of species of scorpions worldwide. Scorpions
mice were used in the experiment. One group grew up in a cage have a threatening appearance due to some characteristic features
in Hebb’s lab. Hebb took the other group to his house and allowed like their venom, pincers, and stingers. If a scorpion has a bigger
his daughters to roam freely in the garden and spend time playing pincer, it does not necessarily mean that it is more dangerous,
games. He then compared the cognitive characteristics of mice contrary to popular belief. This is because scorpions have venom
grown this way and fed in the lab. In order to make this comparison, primarily for feeding purposes, not for stinging humans. Huge
the maze experiment was applied to mice; when the ability to pincers allow them to crush their prey, reducing the need for venom,
find solutions to problems was compared, it was determined while small pincers prevent them from crushing their prey and force
that mice raised at home in an enriched environment were much them to rely on venom to kill it. Despite the fact that all scorpions are
more successful than mice fed in a cage in the laboratory. When venomous, only about 30 of the approximately 2000 species have
this situation is considered in terms of education, it is seen that venom that can be fatal to humans. Most scorpion bites can cause
an environment that is too rich in the number of stimuli provided inexpressibly painful local reactions which will ease off gradually.
to children from the first year contributes to the development of However, because we cannot exactly tell which species has bitten
problem-solving skills in the following years at the same rate. us, it is wise to seek medical attention urgently.
7. According to the passage, why is the existence of enriched 10. According to the passage, some scorpions have bigger pincers
environments important for the education of children? than the others _______.
A) Children enjoy learning in an environment full of educational A) but those are completely useless while they are fighting with the
materials. venomous ones
B) Problem-solving skills of children develop in an environment rich B) since they do not have enough venom to take care of their
in stimulants. dietary needs
C) Teachers should be conscious of the content they teach during C) and those pincers look more threatening than the stinger and
lessons. venom combined
D) Carrying out experiments in the lessons help students to improve D) so that they can use these pincers to protect themselves against
their problem-solving skills. enemies
E) Environments enriched with a wide range of motion and sensory E) because their bodies are not capable of producing venom at all
experiences help mice to learn better.

8. One can infer from the passage that _______. 11. It is stated in the passage that the majority of scorpion stings
A) mice have been used in experiments to understand human can cause extremely intense localised pain, ______.
psychology A) yet this inexpressible pain will stop aching after a good rest
B) enriched environments help to develop better communication B) but applying some cream will make you feel a lot better
skills for both mice and humans C) and deaths may occur if they are not treated immediately
C) people cannot develop certain social skills in a restricted D) while their pincers do not inflict such agonising pains
environment E) so they take a great deal of time to heal properly
D) first years are not as important in children’s development as the
later years
E) mice raised at home were more successful from the ones grown
in labs in terms of their skills

9. What could be the best title for the passage? 12. The main purpose of this passage is to _______.
A) Promoting Development A) inform readers about scorpions
B) Cognitive Characteristics of Mice B) announce a new species of scorpion
C) Donald Olding Hebb as the Father of Neuropsychology C) contrast pincers with stingers
D) Role of Environment on Cognitive Skills D) refute a common belief in scorpions
E) Maze Experiment and Mice E) explain why dinosaurs are not that old

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