Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully:
Without specialised equipment, humans would be lost in these deep-sea habitats, so how do fish make it seem so easy? Much of this is due to a biological phenomenon known as electroreception the ability to perceive and act upon electrical stimuli as part of the overall senses. This ability is only found in aquatic and amphibious species because water is an efficient conductor of electricity.
One fascinating use of electroreception has been observed between the weakly electric fish. When two such electric fish meet in the ocean using the same frequency, each fish will then shift the frequency of its discharge so that they are transmitting on different frequencies. Doing so prevents their electroreception faculties from becoming jammed.
Electroreception can also play an important role in animal defences. Rays are one such example. Young ray embryos develop inside egg cases that are attached to the sea bed. The embryos keep their tails in constant motion to pump water and allow them to breathe through the egg’s casing. If the embryo’s electroreceptors detect the presence of a predatory fish in the vicinity, however, the embryo stops moving (and in doing so, ceases transmitting electric currents) until the predator has moved on.
Many people fear swimming in the ocean because of sharks. Sharks hunt with extraordinary precision. They initially lock on to their prey through a keen sense of smell. As the shark reaches the proximity of its prey, it tunes into electrical signals that ensure a precise strike on its target. This sense is so strong that the shark even attacks blind by letting its eyes recede for protection. In areas where shark attacks on humans are likely to occur, scientists are exploring ways to create artificial electroreceptors. These would disorient the sharks and repel them from swimming beaches.

Question: 1

Infer the advantage that aquatic or amphibious species have over human beings. Answer in about 40 words.

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Aquatic and amphibious species have an advantage due to their ability to detect electrical signals in water, which helps them navigate, hunt, and avoid predators, while humans lack this ability in their natural environment.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Electroreception allows species like fish and rays to detect electrical currents, giving them an advantage in navigation, defense, and communication. Humans lack this sense, making them reliant on tools for survival in underwater habitats.
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Question: 2

A possible use for electroreception that will benefit humans is to:

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Electroreception can benefit humans by allowing them to detect electrical stimuli, which can be used in technology to improve communications, sensing, and safety systems.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
  • Use water as it is an efficient conductor of electricity.
  • Act on electrical stimuli.
  • Change electrical frequency to prevent it from being jammed.
  • Jam electrical frequencies.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Electroreception enables humans to develop technologies that detect and react to electrical signals, which could aid in underwater navigation, surveillance, and preventing hazards in deep-sea environments.
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Question: 3

Explain in about 40 words the use of electroreception between the weakly electric fish.

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Weakly electric fish use electroreception to navigate their environment, detect prey, and communicate with other fish by emitting electric fields and sensing disturbances in these fields.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Electroreception prevents confusion during interactions by enabling weakly electric fish to adjust their signal frequencies. This adjustment ensures smooth communication and avoids overlap in the transmission of electrical signals.
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Question: 4

Identify a young ray embryo from the following:

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The young ray embryo disorients sharks by emitting electrical signals, which helps protect it from predators.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
  • It fears electric signals.
  • It keeps its tail in constant motion.
  • It stations itself on land.
  • It disorients sharks.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Young ray embryos use constant tail movement to pump water and enable breathing inside their egg cases. This adaptation supports survival while allowing electroreception to detect predators and trigger a motionless response for defense.
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Question: 5

Complete the sentence appropriately: A shark hunts with accuracy because \(\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\).

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A shark hunts with accuracy because it can detect electrical fields produced by the movements of potential prey, allowing it to track and hunt effectively.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Sharks utilize electroreception to detect prey’s electrical signals. This sense, coupled with their acute sense of smell, allows them to hunt accurately, even without relying on vision.
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Question: 6

Why does a shark recede its eyes when it attacks?

Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Sharks retract their eyes into their sockets as a defense mechanism to shield them from potential injury while attacking prey. This ensures the eyes remain unharmed when the shark's head makes contact with the prey or other obstacles during an aggressive attack.
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Question: 7

In areas where shark attacks on humans are likely to occur, scientists:

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Scientists are investigating the creation of artificial electroreceptors to detect the electrical fields emitted by sharks, helping to prevent attacks on humans by detecting shark movements.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
  • suggest putting barriers.
  • are exploring ways to create artificial electroreceptors.
  • suggest blinding them.
  • are exploring ways to warn swimmers.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Scientists are investigating the development of artificial electroreceptors that can detect the electrical signals emitted by sharks. These devices could help alert swimmers and humans to the presence of sharks, potentially reducing shark attacks by allowing for timely warnings.
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Question: 8

State True or False.
The title – ‘Understanding Electroreception and its Uses is Significant for Human Beings’ is appropriate for this passage.

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The title accurately reflects the content of the passage, which explains the importance of electroreception in aquatic species and its potential applications for human beings.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

The title of the passage accurately reflects the content, which discusses electroreception in aquatic animals and its potential applications for humans, such as improving safety and technology. This makes the title relevant and suitable for the subject matter.
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