ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Paragraph Comprehension (PC)Easy
Read the following passage: "The human body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, despite external changes, is known as homeostasis. This intricate process involves various regulatory mechanisms that continuously monitor and adjust physiological variables such as body temperature, blood glucose levels, and pH. When a deviation from the set point occurs, feedback loops are activated to restore balance. For example, if body temperature rises, the body responds by sweating and dilating blood vessels to release heat." Based on the passage, what is the primary role of feedback loops in maintaining homeostasis?
- ATo generate external changes that test the body's resilience.
- BTo restore physiological variables to their set points.
- CTo prevent any deviation from the internal environment.
- DTo increase the deviation of physiological variables.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To restore physiological variables to their set points.
The passage explicitly states that feedback loops are activated 'to restore balance' when a deviation occurs, directly correlating to restoring variables to their set points. This is a direct interpretation of the text.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option contradicts the purpose of homeostasis, which is to maintain stability, not create instability.
- C. The passage acknowledges that deviations occur, and feedback loops *respond* to them, rather than preventing them entirely.
- D. This option describes the opposite effect of what feedback loops achieve in homeostasis; they reduce deviations.
Homeostasis and Feedback Loops
Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment. Feedback loops are mechanisms that respond to deviations to restore this stability.
- Maintains stable internal conditions.
- Involves continuous monitoring and adjustment.
- Feedback loops correct deviations from set points.
Memory trick: Homeostasis: Keeping the house (body) stable.