I read this background article the other day: Alcoholic beverages do not make the entire body warmer.[361] The reason that alcoholic drinks create the sensation of warmth is that they cause blood vessels to dilate and stimulate nerve endings near the surface of the skin with an influx of warm blood. This can actually result in making the core body temperature lower, as it allows for easier heat exchange with a cold external environment. I am facing a new situation today: Two people got stuck in a local blizzard. Tom had a bottle of alcohol with him and drank it after he found some kind of shelter in the snow. Dan didn't have alcohol with him. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which of the two people had a larger influx of warm blood near the surface of the skin?
Ans: Tom

I read this background article the other day: The jejunum is the second part of the small intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed into the blood. As shown in Figure below , the mucous membrane lining the jejunum is covered with millions of microscopic, fingerlike projections called villi (singular, villus). Villi contain many capillaries, and nutrients pass from the villi into the bloodstream through the capillaries. Because there are so many villi, they greatly increase the surface area for absorption. In fact, they make the inner surface of the small intestine as large as a tennis court! I am facing a new situation today: Pete liked the human physiology so he started reading about the digestive system, especially about the jejunum. His colleague Fox, studied more about the stomach. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which student read more about the millions of microscopic, fingerlike projections called villi?
Ans: Pete

I read this background article the other day: The quantity of small plastic fragments floating in the north-east Pacific Ocean increased a hundredfold between 1972 and 2012.Marine pollution is a generic term for the harmful entry into the ocean of chemicals or particles. The main culprits are those using the rivers for disposing of their waste. The rivers then empty into the ocean, often also bringing chemicals used as fertilizers in agriculture. The excess of oxygen-depleting chemicals in the water leads to hypoxia and the creation of a dead zone.Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created waste that has ended up floating in a lake, sea, ocean, or waterway. Oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and coastlines, frequently washing aground where it is known as beach litter.In addition, the Pacific Ocean has served as the crash site of satellites, including Mars 96, Fobos-Grunt, and Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. I am facing a new situation today: Tim and Joe were two friends living near two different oceans. Tim lived on the Pacific coast while Joe lived on the Atlantic coast. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which friend sees more oxygen-depleting chemicals in the water?
Ans: Tim

I read this background article the other day: Clouds on Earth are made of water vapor. Venus's clouds are a lot less pleasant. They are made of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and large amounts of corrosive sulfuric acid! The atmosphere of Venus is so thick that the pressure on the surface of Venus is very high. In fact, it is 90 times greater than the pressure at Earth's surface! The thick atmosphere causes a strong greenhouse effect. As a result, Venus is the hottest planet. Even though it is farther from the Sun, Venus is much hotter even than Mercury. Temperatures at the surface reach 465C (860F). That's hot enough to melt lead! I am facing a new situation today: John liked studying about the planets in our solar system. He recently studied and made comparisons between Earth's and Venus's atmosphere. He was amazed with what he found out. Using the knowledge I acquired from the background article, how should I answer correctly the following question regarding my new situation: Which planet has more clouds made of water vapor?
Ans: Earth