neuroscientist Peggy Mason placed 30 pairs of rats in pens. (3) One rat was caged in the middle of the pen, while the other was free to run around. (4) Eventually, 23 of 30 rats liberated their peers by pushing the cage door open with their heads or leaning against the door until it tipped over.
(5) In another experiment, Mason gave rats access to two cages, in one cage was another rat, in the other was a pile of chocolate chips. (6) The rats eating the chocolate themselves. (7) instead, most of the rodents opened both cages and shared the sweets. (8) "In rat land, that is big." Mason says, claiming that this study is the first to show altruistic behavior in rodents.
(9) Not all scientists agree with the conclusion Mason drew from the experiment, however. (10) The jailbreaking rats might have only been trying to silence their cohorts' distressing alarm calis. (11) Mason counters that the alarm calls from the caged rats were not frequent enough to motivate their peers, but both parties are speculating at this point.
(12) Mason's new study is one of many that are changing how scientists think about empathy and altruism, namely: that such characteristics are not limited to people, as they once thought. (13) It now seems that many animals have evolved instincts to help others.
In the context of the passage, what sentence should be inserted immediately after sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Mason counters that the alarm calls from the caged rats were not frequent enough to motivate their peers, but both parties are speculating at this point.
More research must be done to arrive at an answer.
This sentence logically follows the discussion of differing opinions between Mason and her critics, indicating that the debate over the motivations behind the rats' behavior remains unresolved and necessitates further investigation.
This choice presents a defeatist perspective that undermines the scientific process. While uncertainties exist in research, scientists strive to uncover explanations, making this option less suitable as it implies a complete lack of understanding rather than the pursuit of knowledge.
While potential bias in research is a valid concern, this statement does not contribute constructively to the ongoing debate. It detracts from the focus on the need for further research and does not directly address the uncertainty of the findings discussed in the passage.
This choice emphasizes the necessity of continued investigation into the motivations behind the rats' actions and aligns perfectly with the idea of speculation presented in sentence 11. It acknowledges the limitations of current understanding while promoting the advancement of scientific inquiry.
This option shifts the focus from the specific experiment to a generalization about scientists, which does not address the core issue of the motivations of the rats. It fails to engage with the complexities of the discussion and does not contribute meaningfully to the passage's exploration of altruism in animals.
The insertion of "More research must be done to arrive at an answer" serves to bridge the gap between the differing views on Mason's findings, reinforcing the idea that scientific understanding is an evolving process. This statement highlights the ongoing need for investigation into animal behavior, particularly concerning empathy and altruism, and encourages readers to consider the complexities involved in interpreting scientific results.
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