Exam-style question
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What causes the variation in hearing sensitivity across different frequencies?.
- A.The structure of the cochlea
- B.The size of the eardrum
- C.The length of the ossicles
- D.The amplitude of sound waves
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The structure of the cochlea
Explanation
Why this works
The structure of the cochlea is the cause of variation in hearing sensitivity because it contains hair cells that respond differently to various frequencies. This mechanism allows certain frequencies to be amplified more than others, leading to the effect of varying sensitivity.
Consequently, this results in individuals perceiving some sounds more clearly than others, impacting their overall hearing ability.
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