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Misfit Sentence/Odd One Out Question
21. Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.
1. To create a synapse, the neuron has specialized structures, often seen as tiny swellings, at its terminal end of the axon where it stores the chemicals that are emitted to transmit a signal to the next neuron.
2. This fetal warm-up actâthe soldering of neural connections before the eyes actually functionâis crucial to the performance of the visual system.
3. The reasons for this paring back of synapses is a mystery, but synaptic pruning is thought to sharpen and reinforce the âcorrectâ synapses, while removing the weak and unnecessary ones.
4. Neural connections between the eyes and the brain are formed long before birth, establishing the wiring and the circuitry that allow a child to begin visualizing the world the minute she emerges from the womb.
5. During this rehearsal period, synapsesâpoints of chemical connectionâbetween nerve cells are generated in great excess, only to be pruned back during later development.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: 1
Detailed explanation by Wordpandit:
The central theme across the majority of the sentences (2, 3, 4, and 5) is the developmental process of neural connectionsâespecially those involved in visionâand the formation and refinement of synapses in the fetal stage. These sentences follow a coherent sequence that begins with the formation of neural pathways before birth and moves through the overproduction and later pruning of synapses, highlighting their role in visual system readiness.Sentence 4 sets the context by describing how neural connections between the eyes and brain form before birth, preparing a child to see the world from the moment of birth.
Sentence 2 continues this theme, noting that this fetal development is like a warm-up essential for proper visual function.
Sentence 5 expands on what happens during this period: an overproduction of synapses, which are then refined.
Sentence 3 explains the purpose of this process, describing synaptic pruning as a way to retain strong connections and eliminate weak ones.
Together, these four sentences create a developmental narrative focused on early neural circuitry and vision.
Option-wise Analysis:
- Sentence 1: Correct answer (odd one out). While it is factually related (it talks about how synapses form), its focus is structural and microscopic, discussing axonal terminals and chemical release. This does not align with the developmental and functional focus of the other four sentences, which are more concerned with why and how synapses form and change in relation to brain development and visual readiness.
Answer: 1 is correct because it breaks from the developmental narrative and instead focuses on the mechanics of synapse transmission, making it unrelated in tone and purpose to the other sentences.
Word-1: Synapse
Context:
"To create a synapse, the neuron has specialized structures, often seen as tiny swellings, at its terminal end of the axon where it stores the chemicals that are emitted to transmit a signal to the next neuron." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
A "synapse" is the tiny gap or junction between two nerve cells (neurons) where communication occurs through chemical or electrical signals. When one neuron wants to pass on a message, it releases chemicals called neurotransmitters across the synapse, which the receiving neuron detects and responds to. This process is essential for everything from basic reflexes to complex thoughts and emotions. Synapses are foundational to how the brain and nervous system function, enabling trillions of signals to be exchanged constantly.
Meaning: The junction between two neurons where nerve signals are transmitted (Noun)
Pronunciation: SIN-aps or SI-naps
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Greek âsynaptein,â meaning âto join together,â from âsyn-â (together) + âhapteinâ (to fasten).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Think of a synapse like a tiny bridge for thoughts. Itâs not a physical connection but a chemical handshakeâa beautiful design of nature that keeps our brain buzzing with activity.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: neural junction, connection point, transmission site (context-specific)
Antonyms: disconnection, interruption (conceptual antonyms)
Usage Examples:
- When you learn something new, your brain forms new synapses to store the information.
- Disorders like Alzheimerâs can disrupt synapses, leading to memory loss and confusion.
- The strength of a synapse can change with experience, a process called synaptic plasticity.
- Neurotransmitters cross the synapse to pass the signal to the next neuron.
Cultural Reference:
In neuroscience and popular science books like David Eaglemanâs *The Brain*, synapses are often described as the foundation of human consciousness and learning.
Think About It:
If every thought, memory, and emotion depends on synapses, what happens to identity when these connections weaken or change?
Quick Activity:
Draw or find a diagram of a synapse and label the key parts: axon terminal, synaptic cleft, and neurotransmitter receptors. Then write a one-line explanation of what happens at each stage.
Memory Tip:
âSynapseâ sounds like âsnapâ â imagine a snap or spark between two neurons making a connection!
Real-World Application:
Understanding synapses is crucial in medicine and neuroscience. Drugs that treat depression, anxiety, or Parkinsonâs disease often work by altering synaptic transmission to restore balance in brain chemistry.
Word-2: Circuitry
Context:
"Neural connections between the eyes and the brain are formed long before birth, establishing the wiring and the circuitry that allow a child to begin visualizing the world the minute she emerges from the womb." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Circuitry" refers to a system of interconnected electrical pathways or circuits. In the context of biology and neuroscience, it metaphorically describes the complex network of neurons and connections in the brain and nervous system. Just like an electrical circuit transmits energy, neural circuitry transmits information and signals. This word emphasizes how the brainâs structure and connections are 'wired' to process inputâsuch as visual dataâeven before birth, highlighting the incredible sophistication of the human nervous system.
Meaning: A system of interconnected pathways or circuits, especially for electrical or neural signals (Noun)
Pronunciation: SUR-kit-ree
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From âcircuitâ (Latin âcircuitusâ meaning âa going aroundâ) + â-ryâ (indicating a system or collection).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Use "circuitry" to describe not just machines but also how living systems are organized. The brainâs âcircuitryâ is an elegant metaphor for how data flows and patterns emerge in our mindsâlike an organic motherboard.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: network, wiring, configuration, system, pathway
Antonyms: disconnection, randomness, breakdown (contextual)
Usage Examples:
- The robotâs internal circuitry was damaged, preventing it from responding to commands.
- Neural circuitry develops rapidly in infants, allowing them to process sights and sounds.
- The emotional circuitry of the brain plays a crucial role in decision-making.
- He studied the circuitry of the device to understand how it converts input into output.
Cultural Reference:
In neuroscience and popular psychology, books like *The Brain That Changes Itself* (Norman Doidge) discuss how the brain's circuitry is not fixed but "plastic"âcapable of rewiring based on experience.
Think About It:
How might our experiences during early childhood shape the circuitry of our brains and influence who we become?
Quick Activity:
Sketch a simple neural circuit: include sensory input, processing in the brain, and motor output. Label each part and explain how signals travel.
Memory Tip:
âCircuitryâ sounds like âcircuitsââthink of wires or neurons buzzing with energy, constantly relaying information like a high-speed train system.
Real-World Application:
Circuitry is a key concept in electronics, robotics, and neuroscience. In mental health, disruptions in brain circuitry are linked to conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, making it a vital area of medical research and innovation.
Word-3: Pruning
Context:
"The reasons for this paring back of synapses is a mystery, but synaptic pruning is thought to sharpen and reinforce the 'correct' synapses, while removing the weak and unnecessary ones." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Pruning" refers to the act of trimming or cutting away unnecessary parts to improve structure or function. In neuroscience, "synaptic pruning" describes the brainâs process of eliminating weaker or redundant synaptic connections during development. This helps strengthen essential pathways and makes the brain more efficient. Much like pruning a tree to promote healthy growth, the brain removes what it doesnât need in order to refine its performance, especially during childhood and adolescence.
Meaning: The process of cutting away unnecessary or weak parts to improve overall function (Noun/Verb)
Pronunciation: PROO-ning
Difficulty Level: ââ Easy
Etymology: From Middle English "prounen," meaning to trim or cut, originally used in horticulture and gardening.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âPruningâ is a beautifully visual word. Just as a gardener prunes a plant to help it grow stronger, the brain prunes its connections to become sharper and more focused. It's a powerful metaphor for learning and refinement.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: trimming, cutting, refining, paring, removing
Antonyms: expanding, adding, accumulating, growing (in excess)
Usage Examples:
- Synaptic pruning helps the brain streamline its functions during early development.
- The gardener spent the morning pruning dead branches from the rosebush.
- In editing, pruning unnecessary words improves clarity and impact.
- Teenage brains undergo massive pruning as part of their cognitive development.
Cultural Reference:
In the book *The Brain That Changes Itself*, Norman Doidge explains how pruning contributes to neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to adapt and become more efficient by shedding whatâs unused.
Think About It:
In your own lifeâhabits, relationships, or knowledgeâwhat could benefit from a little âpruningâ to make space for growth?
Quick Activity:
Make a list of 3 things in your daily routine or mental space that feel unnecessary or unproductive. Choose one and plan how to âpruneâ it this week.
Memory Tip:
Picture a gardener pruning a treeâcutting back so it grows stronger. Thatâs what the brain does with its connections!
Real-World Application:
"Pruning" is a key concept in neuroscience, gardening, writing, and productivity. In all these areas, it emphasizes improvement through reductionâgetting rid of whatâs unnecessary to make room for what matters.
Word-4: Reinforce
Context:
"The reasons for this paring back of synapses is a mystery, but synaptic pruning is thought to sharpen and reinforce the 'correct' synapses, while removing the weak and unnecessary ones." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Reinforce" means to strengthen or support something, making it more effective, durable, or powerful. In neuroscience, reinforcing a synapse means strengthening the connection between two neurons, often through repeated use or learning. The brain does this naturallyâconnections that are used often get reinforced and become stronger, while those rarely used may fade. The idea also applies broadly to behavior, beliefs, structures, and learning. Whether itâs a habit or a neural pathway, reinforcement makes it stick.
Meaning: To make stronger or more effective; to support or fortify (Verb)
Pronunciation: ree-in-FORS
Difficulty Level: ââ Easy
Etymology: From Old French *reinforcer* (to strengthen), based on Latin *re-* (again) + *infortis* (strong).
Prashant Sir's Notes:
"Reinforce" is a versatile word. Whether youâre reinforcing a wall, a memory, or a belief, youâre making it stronger. Itâs especially powerful in learning contextsâwhat you practice, you reinforce.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: strengthen, fortify, support, cement, bolster
Antonyms: weaken, undermine, erode, impair, diminish
Usage Examples:
- Teachers often use repetition to reinforce key concepts in studentsâ minds.
- The army reinforced the bridge with steel beams to support heavy vehicles.
- Positive experiences can reinforce a childâs confidence and self-worth.
- In therapy, behavioral reinforcement is used to encourage healthy habits.
Cultural Reference:
In psychology, B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning relies heavily on reinforcementârewards or punishments that increase or decrease the likelihood of behavior.
Think About It:
What beliefs or behaviors do you unknowingly reinforce in your daily life? Are they helping or holding you back?
Quick Activity:
Choose a habit you want to build. Write down two ways you can reinforce that habit daily using rewards or routines.
Memory Tip:
Think of âreinforceâ as âre-â (again) + âin-forceâ â putting more force or strength into something!
Real-World Application:
âReinforceâ is used in learning, construction, psychology, and even leadership. Whether you're reinforcing steel in buildings or values in a team, itâs about making foundations stronger and more reliable.
Word-5: Developmental
Context:
"The central theme across the majority of the sentences (2, 3, 4, and 5) is the developmental process of neural connectionsâespecially those involved in visionâand the formation and refinement of synapses in the fetal stage." - Source Unknown
Explanatory Paragraph:
"Developmental" refers to anything related to growth, progress, or the process of change over timeâespecially in a biological, psychological, or educational context. In neuroscience, "developmental" describes the stages through which the brain and nervous system evolve, particularly during fetal life and early childhood. In this context, it highlights how the brainâs structureâespecially vision-related neural pathwaysâemerges and refines itself as part of a natural, intricate process of development.
Meaning: Related to growth or the process of developing or maturing (Adjective)
Pronunciation: deh-vel-up-MEN-tl
Difficulty Level: ââ Easy
Etymology: From the word âdevelopâ (Old French *desveloper*, meaning âunwrap or unfoldâ) + the suffix â-mental,â which forms adjectives.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
"Developmental" is a foundational word across disciplinesâbiology, psychology, education, and medicine. Use it to refer to any process of gradual formation, especially during early life or learning stages. It signals growth thatâs structured, layered, and purposeful.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: growth-related, evolving, maturing, progressive, formative
Antonyms: stagnant, undeveloped, halted, regressive
Usage Examples:
- Developmental neuroscience focuses on how the brain forms and changes from birth onward.
- He was diagnosed with a developmental delay affecting language acquisition.
- The toy was designed to support early childhood developmental milestones.
- Environmental factors can significantly influence a childâs developmental trajectory.
Cultural Reference:
Developmental psychology, pioneered by thinkers like Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson, explores the stages of human growth from infancy to adulthood, shaping much of modern education and parenting practices.
Think About It:
How can early developmental experiences shape not just how we think, but who we become?
Quick Activity:
List three areas of human development (e.g., language, emotion, motor skills) and describe one way each can be supported during childhood.
Memory Tip:
Think of âdevelopmentalâ as a long staircaseâeach step is part of the growing process, especially in the brain and body.
Real-World Application:
"Developmental" is essential in healthcare, education, and psychology. Professionals use it to assess whether children are reaching age-appropriate milestones and to design interventions when needed, such as in developmental disorders like autism or ADHD.
