The author uses a cause/effect text structure primarily to demonstrate the dangers of cosmic radiation. The article discusses how cosmic rays can change the physical architecture of the brain's nerves, leading to potential memory loss for astronauts during space travel. This establishes a clear cause (exposure to cosmic rays) and its effect (harm to memory).
ELA 12 B Semester Exam
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Feature
"Mission to Mars May Warp Astronauts' Brains"
by Nsikan Akpan
One day, space explorers might stroll along the red rocks of Mars. But radiation exposure during the trip may wipe away their memories of home.
A new report says that cosmic rays can change the physical architecture of the mind’s nerves, harming the brain regions that govern memory.
Cosmic rays, comprised of high-speed atomic particles, blanket the Milky Way galaxy. The radiation constantly bombards our planet, but the Earth’s magnetic field and its atmosphere save us from the most dangerous rays.
People who venture into deep space aren’t so lucky, as cosmic rays can easily penetrate a spaceship’s metallic hull or a space helmet. So before NASA sends anyone into deep space, they want to figure out the possible long-term ramifications of exposure to cosmic radiation.
One item of concern is radiation-induced memory loss, says cancer researcher Charles Limoli of the University of California Irvine, who led the report published May 1 in Science Advances. Cancer radiotherapy can impair human memory and spawn dementia, which is what drew Limoli’s team to the research.
“Upon penetrating the body, these charged particles leave tracks of damage on the same scale as neurons,” Limoli said. “So we reasoned that [cosmic] irradiation might elicit long lasting structural changes in neurons that would lead to cognitive impairment.”
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Question
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Why does the author use a cause/effect text structure?
(1 point)
Responses
to demonstrate the dangers of cosmic radiation
to demonstrate the dangers of cosmic radiation
to explain the importance of space travel
to explain the importance of space travel
to offer alternatives to space helmets
to offer alternatives to space helmets
to propose solutions to memory loss
to propose solutions to memory loss
1 answer