Signal: Engelska - Högskoleprovet

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Question 51: Gut Microbiome and Depression

Recent evidence by neurobiologist Anne-Lise Goddard suggests that gut bacteria play a critical role in mood regulation. In a clinical trial, subjects consuming probiotics daily for eight weeks reported lower depressive symptoms than placebo groups. Surprisingly, the probiotic group initially experienced worsened mood during the first two weeks. Goddard hypothesized this initial deterioration could result from changes in microbiota composition disrupting serotonin synthesis before a beneficial balance was restored.

Which conclusion aligns best with Goddard's findings regarding gut microbiota and depression?

A. The gut microbiome influences mood indirectly by altering serotonin production after initial imbalance.

B. Gut bacteria immediately improve serotonin levels upon probiotic consumption.

C. Probiotics consistently worsen depressive symptoms during long-term use.

D. Placebo effects explain short-term mood deterioration in probiotic users.

Question 52: Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

Sociologist Daniel Edwards conducted research indicating AI hiring tools initially decreased unconscious human bias in candidate selection. However, over time, biases embedded in historical hiring data amplified existing inequalities. Edwards suggests algorithms reflect human biases unless periodically retrained using diverse, updated datasets.

What deeper implication arises from Edwards's research on AI hiring?

A. AI systems inherently eliminate all hiring biases permanently.

B. AI is incapable of reflecting biases if initially designed correctly.

C. Regular data updates are crucial to prevent AI from perpetuating human bias.

D. Historical data inevitably improve AI fairness in hiring practices.

Question 53: Urban Noise and Cognitive Decline

Psychologist Irene Vázquez found sustained exposure to urban noise led to subtle but significant cognitive decline, primarily due to disrupted sleep and increased cortisol. Interestingly, brief exposure to loud urban sounds temporarily increased alertness and cognitive performance in some individuals. Vázquez concluded chronic noise exposure fundamentally differs from acute noise events regarding cognitive impact.

What key inference about noise exposure and cognition does Vázquez's study support?

A. Both short-term and long-term urban noise exposure equally harm cognition.

B. Acute noise exposure can paradoxically boost short-term cognitive functions.

C. Sustained urban noise exposure universally improves cognitive alertness.

D. Cortisol increases from noise have minimal impact on cognitive performance.

Question 54: Vegetarian Diets and Athletic Performance

Sports nutritionist Erika Müller demonstrated that vegetarian athletes showed improved cardiovascular health initially but struggled with muscle recovery after intense training sessions compared to omnivorous athletes. Müller attributes this to lower protein bioavailability from plant-based sources, suggesting supplementation or dietary adjustments are necessary for sustained performance in intensive athletics.

What deeper conclusion about vegetarian diets in athletics can be drawn?

A. Vegetarian diets unequivocally enhance both cardiovascular health and recovery.

B. Plant-based diets naturally provide sufficient protein for intense athletic training.

C. Athletes adopting vegetarian diets may need dietary adjustments to sustain optimal recovery.

D. Omnivorous diets inherently harm cardiovascular performance in all athletes.

Question 55: Music Training and Mathematical Ability

Educational researcher Wei Zhang discovered music training significantly boosted mathematical performance in students but specifically enhanced spatial reasoning rather than algebraic skills. Zhang argues that music enhances cognitive functions linked to spatial processing but may not broadly improve mathematical reasoning across all domains.

What nuanced conclusion best represents Zhang's findings on music training?

A. Music training uniformly improves all aspects of mathematical reasoning.

B. Musical training enhances spatial reasoning specifically, rather than all mathematical skills.

C. Algebraic skills naturally improve following musical training.

D. Music training provides no measurable cognitive benefit to mathematical ability.

Question 56: Social Isolation and Creativity

Psychologist Emma Weber's research revealed temporary social isolation significantly boosted creative output initially but caused reduced creative motivation and productivity with prolonged isolation. Weber theorizes isolation briefly enhances focus and novel thought patterns, whereas prolonged isolation causes decreased stimulation and motivation.

What deeper understanding emerges about isolation's impact on creativity?

A. Prolonged isolation consistently enhances both creative output and motivation.

B. Brief isolation can boost creativity, whereas sustained isolation negatively impacts motivation.

C. Social isolation has no measurable impact on creative output or motivation.

D. Isolation uniformly diminishes creative productivity over all durations.

Question 57: Vitamin D Levels and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Endocrinologist Dr. Karim Ahmed found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved mood in patients suffering from SAD during winter months, yet had negligible benefits in patients experiencing depression during summer months. Ahmed proposed vitamin D deficiency exacerbates SAD symptoms primarily due to reduced sunlight exposure, not solely vitamin levels.

What inference about vitamin D's role in SAD does Ahmed's study most accurately reflect?

A. Vitamin D supplementation equally benefits depressive symptoms year-round.

B. Low vitamin D uniquely exacerbates SAD specifically during low sunlight periods.

C. Vitamin D deficiency has no direct connection with depressive symptoms.

D. Seasonal depression is entirely explained by vitamin D levels alone.

Question 58: Green Spaces and Childhood Asthma

Epidemiologist Maria Gonzalez's study linked increased exposure to urban green spaces to a decreased incidence of childhood asthma. However, children frequently visiting green areas also showed higher allergy prevalence initially. Gonzalez suggested early allergen exposure through green spaces might trigger immune adaptation, ultimately reducing asthma rates.

What subtle implication can be drawn from Gonzalez's findings?

A. Green spaces unequivocally worsen childhood asthma through increased allergen exposure.

B. Early allergen exposure in green spaces may stimulate protective immunity despite initial allergy symptoms.

C. Asthma and allergies increase proportionally with more frequent visits to green spaces.

D. Exposure to green spaces has no measurable effect on childhood respiratory conditions.

Question 59: Multilingualism and Cognitive Aging

Neurolinguist Katya Ivanova observed that bilingual adults experience cognitive decline later than monolinguals but exhibit equivalent cognitive decline after onset. Her findings imply that bilingualism delays cognitive decline onset by strengthening cognitive reserves but cannot ultimately prevent aging-related cognitive deterioration.

What deeper understanding of cognitive aging and multilingualism emerges from the research?

A. Multilingualism permanently prevents cognitive decline in aging individuals.

B. Multilingualism delays but does not fully prevent cognitive decline in aging populations.

C. Bilingual people inevitably experience earlier cognitive decline than monolinguals.

D. Cognitive deterioration rate remains unchanged by linguistic ability throughout aging.

Question 60: Artificial Light and Sleep Quality

Neuroscientist Dr. Asha Reddy showed exposure to artificial blue light significantly reduced sleep quality by disrupting melatonin production. Yet, controlled exposure to artificial blue light during daytime improved nighttime sleep by regulating circadian rhythms. Relying on timing, blue light had opposite effects.

What nuanced conclusion can be made about blue light exposure and sleep?

A. Blue light consistently disrupts circadian rhythms regardless of exposure timing.

B. Daytime exposure to blue light can positively regulate sleep patterns, whereas nighttime exposure disrupts them.

C. Artificial light always benefits sleep quality at all times of day.

D. Blue light has negligible impact on sleep patterns in healthy individuals.

Question 61: Animal Navigation

Animals use various strategies for navigation. Sea turtles, for example, rely on Earth's magnetic field to navigate vast oceans. Salmon returning to their birth rivers depend heavily on their sense of smell. Remarkably, captive homing pigeons show orientation behaviors consistent with wild pigeons, even in artificially controlled conditions, suggesting an innate biological compass independent of...