Question

Please select a suitable word from the given choices which stands closest in meaning to the word 'cognitive' in the given passage.

• A. rational
• B. nonanalytical
• C. noncerebral
• D. reactive
• A. Bummer
• B. Grit
• C. Affliction
• D. Tribulation
• A. Indoor plants may not effectively remove indoor pollutants or significantly improve indoor air quality due to the unrealistic requirement of having many plants in a very bright room.
• B. Research suggests that being in the presence of indoor plants can improve mental and physical health, including cognitive performance and stress reduction.
• C. Lack of access to nature can have negative effects on mental and physical health, including depression, anxiety, and various diseases.
• D. Caring for houseplants can bring emotional benefits such as pride, social connection, satisfaction, fascination, and mental resilience.
• A. People tend to react more positively to artificial plants than to real plants.
• B. Not having access to nature has no effect on our health.
• C. For many of us, houseplants are an essential link to nature.
• D. Gardening maximizes the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• A. Indoor plants or houseplants have no impact on mental health and only serve aesthetic purposes.
• B. Houseplants offer a cost-effective way to connect with nature, enhance mental health, manage green spaces, and aid in pollutant removal, albeit requiring many plants in a well-lit setting for notable outcomes.
• C. Houseplants are an expensive and ineffective way of connecting with nature for those without access to outdoor green space.
• D. Houseplants have no emotional benefits and do not contribute to satisfaction, fascination, or mental resilience.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the word that is closest in meaning (synonym) to 'cognitive' as used in the passage.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
First, let's find the word 'cognitive' in the passage. It appears twice:
1. "The presence of plants saw better performances on cognitive tasks involving focus, sorting or memory recall..."
2. "High concentrations of carbon dioxide can reduce cognitive performance (such as concentration and memory recall)..."
In both contexts, 'cognitive' refers to mental processes related to thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering. The passage links it to specific activities like focus, sorting, memory recall, and concentration.
Now let's analyze the options:
(A) rational: This word means based on or in accordance with reason or logic. Rational thinking is a key part of cognitive function. This is a strong candidate.
(B) nonanalytical: This means not using analysis or logical reasoning, which is the opposite of cognitive.
(C) noncerebral: This means not related to the brain or the intellect. 'Cognitive' functions are centered in the brain, so this is an antonym.
(D) reactive: This means acting in response to a stimulus rather than creating or controlling an initiative. While reaction is a mental process, 'cognitive' is a broader term covering the processing of information, not just the reaction to it.
Comparing the options, 'rational' is the closest synonym to 'cognitive' as it encompasses the processes of thought, reason, and intellect mentioned in the passage.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Based on the analysis, 'rational' is the most suitable synonym for 'cognitive' in the given context.

Answer 2

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question requires us to find the best synonym for the word 'resilience' from the given options, based on its usage in the text.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's locate 'resilience' in the passage: "...caring for houseplants will bring out many more emotional benefits - such as pride, social connection, satisfaction, fascination, mental resilience in times of stress..."
The phrase "mental resilience in times of stress" suggests the ability to cope with and recover from difficult situations. It implies mental toughness and the capacity to bounce back.
Now let's examine the options:
(A) Bummer: This is informal slang for a disappointment or an annoying situation. It is not related to resilience.
(B) Grit: This word means courage, resolve, and strength of character. It implies perseverance and toughness, especially in the face of adversity. This aligns very well with the meaning of mental resilience.
(C) Affliction: This refers to something that causes pain or suffering. It is a cause of distress, not the ability to withstand it.
(D) Tribulation: This means a cause of great trouble or suffering. Similar to affliction, it is a negative condition, not a positive trait for overcoming it.
Therefore, 'Grit' is the word that most closely matches the meaning of 'resilience' as the strength to endure stress.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The word 'Grit' is the closest in meaning to 'resilience' in the context of the passage.

Answer 3

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the statement that disapproves of, or goes against, the main idea of the passage. The main idea of the passage is that houseplants are beneficial for mental and physical well-being.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the main idea and then evaluate each option. The passage strongly advocates for having houseplants, citing benefits like improved mental health, better cognitive performance, stress reduction, and emotional well-being. While it also mentions air purification, the overall tone is highly positive. A statement that "disapproves" the main idea would challenge or weaken this positive argument.
(A) This statement points out a significant limitation to one of the benefits mentioned in the passage. The passage itself states, "...removing a meaningful quantity of indoor pollutants would require a lot of plants in a very bright room - something unrealistic for most people." By highlighting this impracticality, the statement casts doubt on a key advertised benefit, thereby weakening or "disapproving" the overall positive claim about houseplants' effectiveness.
(B) This statement is a direct summary of the positive findings presented in the passage. It supports, rather than disapproves, the main idea.
(C) This statement provides the foundational reason why houseplants are important, as explained in the passage. It supports the main idea by establishing the problem that houseplants help solve.
(D) This statement lists the emotional benefits of caring for houseplants, which is a core argument in favor of them. It strongly supports the main idea.
Among the given choices, option (A) is the only one that presents a counter-argument or a significant drawback, thus challenging the overall positive message and disapproving the main idea to some extent.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The statement that disapproves the main idea is (A) because it highlights a major practical limitation of one of the claimed benefits of indoor plants.

Answer 4

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the statement that is factually true according to the information provided in the passage.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
We need to check each statement against the content of the passage.
(A) "People tend to react more positively to artificial plants than to real plants." The passage states that "people tend to react more positively to lush, green plants with rounded and denser foliage" but makes no mention of artificial plants. Thus, this statement is not supported by the text.
(B) "Not having access to nature has no effect on our health." The passage directly contradicts this. It says, "Not having access to nature can have a number of effects on our health. It's been linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as other health conditions...". Therefore, this statement is false.
(C) "For many of us, houseplants are an essential link to nature." This is stated verbatim in the passage: "For many of us, houseplants are an essential link to nature." Therefore, this statement is true.
(D) "Gardening maximizes the symptoms of depression and anxiety." The passage states the opposite: "Gardening also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety...". Therefore, this statement is false.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Based on a direct quote from the passage, statement (C) is the only one that is true.

Answer 5

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The task is to choose the option that best summarizes the entire passage. A good summary should capture the main points accurately and concisely without introducing false information.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's break down the key points of the passage:

Houseplants are an "affordable way" to get a "nature fix."
They improve mental health (reduce stress, depression, anxiety).
They improve cognitive performance.
They provide emotional benefits (pride, resilience).
They can remove pollutants, but this has a major limitation: it's "unrealistic for most people" because it requires many plants and bright light.
Now let's evaluate the given summary options:
(A) This statement claims houseplants have "no impact on mental health," which is the exact opposite of the passage's main argument. This is incorrect.
(B) This statement covers all the key points: "cost-effective" (affordable), "connect with nature," "enhance mental health," "aid in pollutant removal," and it includes the important limitation ("albeit requiring many plants in a well-lit setting"). This is a very accurate and comprehensive summary.
(C) This statement calls houseplants "expensive and ineffective." The passage calls them "affordable" and details their effectiveness. This is incorrect.
(D) This statement claims houseplants have "no emotional benefits." The passage explicitly lists several emotional benefits like pride, satisfaction, and mental resilience. This is incorrect.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Option (B) provides the most accurate and complete summary of the passage, including both the benefits and the limitations discussed.