Question

Carefully read the paragraph below:
A map is a useful metaphor for our brain when talking about __ because at its most basic level our brain__ to be our atlas of sorts, a system of routes __ to navigate us toward just one destination: staying alive!
From the options below, choose the set that MOST appropriately fills up the blanks.

• A. Perception, evolved, designed
• B. Understanding, progressed, shaped
• C. Connections, changed, molded
• D. Design, developed, shaped
• E. Comprehension, metamorphosed, designed

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To understand which option most appropriately fills in the blanks of the given paragraph, we need to evaluate how well each set of words fits in the context of the metaphor of the brain as a map:

• Perception, evolved, designed: "A map is a useful metaphor for our brain when talking about perception because at its most basic level our brain has evolved to be our atlas of sorts, a system of routes designed to navigate us toward just one destination: staying alive!" This set of words fits logically and coherently into the paragraph, aligning with the metaphor of the brain's complex functions.
• Understanding, progressed, shaped: The word "understanding" does not match with the metaphor as closely as "perception" does. Additionally, "progressed" and "shaped" do not convey the same sense of deliberate natural development and purpose as "evolved" and "designed".
• Connections, changed, molded: This combination implies a somewhat different connotation, focusing more on alteration rather than evolution and deliberate structure.
• Design, developed, shaped: Here, the initial concept of talking about "design" is less intuitive than "perception" when applied to the metaphorical context.
• Comprehension, metamorphosed, designed: Though "comprehension" and "metamorphosed" fit to some degree, they don't align as strongly with the metaphorical narrative of natural evolution and design.

Thus, the set that fits best into the metaphor of the map and the brain, describing how the brain functions naturally and has developed with a purpose, is:

Perception, evolved, designed