GS-1 Biological Sciences Question 8

[jvuofm1709]

Nothing in the passage suggests that heat on skin won't rise core body temperatures. I've been outside before when it's hot out...I sweat more...The reason my core body temperature isn't changing is because I'm sweating, it's a homeostatic response to heat on my skin. It is fairly logical to me, that since I know people sweat more when it's hot out, and that the passage says that sweating only occurs in response to a rising core body temperature...that heat on the skin raises the core body temperature. The question expresses simultaneity of the two variables: heat on the skin and drinking water. This led me to reason that the heat on the skin provoked sweating, while the ice water would inhibit sweating; no sweating would occur. This seemed logical without any quantitative data.

furthermore, to play devil's advocate, the answer key suggests that B) is correct b/c the ice water is the only factor effecting core body temperature. Well, if that's the case, then sweating wouldn't decrease, it woudln't happen at all. If their is no outside stimulus to induce sweat production before drinking the ice water, then how can it decrease? None is produced in the first place to be decreased. It would produce a drop in body temp below the homeostatic level and cause a response like shivering.

[admin]

The key to answering this question is reading very carefully its passage. We have edited the question so that you can be aware of that. However, the right answer is still B.
First of all, the heat must penetrate the skin before heating the core, neither the passage nor the questions states it does so. Also, since the ice water is cooling from the inside out it will decrease sweating by decreasing the core body temperature.

[chronicida2879]

I disagree. If sweating, which directly lowers skin temperature, can lower core body temperature, then heating the skin would also increase body temperature.