Question

The Anatomy of the Human Ear
The ear contains three parts. The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear work together to help you hear and establish balance. The outer ear is also called the pinna. It is the visible portion of the ear. It consists of strong cartilage that is covered by skin. Its job is to collect all sounds. It funnels these sounds into the ear canal so that they can reach the eardrum. The outer ear also collects earwax, a collection of dirt and wax that protects the ear canal and fights off infections. Although it is important, ear wax still needs to be cleared away every so often to prevent a clog.


A diagram of the outer, middle, and inner ear
When sound passes through the outer ear, it enters the ear canal into the middle ear. The middle ear is also known as the tympanic cavity. This is where the eardrum sits. Inside the middle ear, sound waves vibrate the eardrum. The middle ear is also filled with air. The Eustachian tube is a part of the middle ear which helps to equalize ear pressure with the outside air pressure. This explains the sensation of ear popping while taking off and landing in a plane.

The inner ear, meanwhile, contains a small liquid-filled tube called the cochlea that moves with the ear drum’s vibrations. The vibrations cause the tiny hair cells lining the cochlea to send electrical signals to the brain. Full hearing occurs when the brain processes the information gained by the ear.


Questions
An objective summary of the text would include which of the following? Select two.

A description of the major parts of the ear

Details about what happens when your ears pop on an airplane

Opinions about why your ears are so useful

An overview of what happens to sound in the inner ear

Answer 1

Select: A description of the major parts of the ear and An overview of what happens to sound in the inner ear.

Reason: those are the main factual points of the passage. The airplane ear‑popping is a specific detail, and opinions are not present.