After not eating for three days, _____ levels will be high.

Question

A.  pancreatic enzymes
B.  glucagon
C.  glycogen
D.  insulin
E.  blood glucose

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?

Gather Content
· What do you know about fasting? What other information is related to the question?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

B.  glucagon

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about the effects of fasting on hormones.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to apply your knowledge about the effects of fasting on hormones.

Gather Content
· What do you know about fasting? What other information is related to the question?
        o After person fasts, their blood glucose levels decrease and the liver secretes glucose into the blood.  Insulin levels drop as blood glucose drops. This glucose is obtained in part from the breakdown of liver glycogen to glucose 6-phosphate, a process called glycogenolysis. The breakdown of liver glycogen is stimulated by another hormone, glucagon, which is secreted by the a (alpha) cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o During fasting, glycogen, blood glucose and insulin levels all drop.  Pancreatic enzymes are not needed to digest food, and also decrease.  Glucagon levels increase to stimulate glycogen break down and release of glucose into the blood.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to apply your knowledge about the effects of fasting on hormones. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you think that glycogen, blood glucose or insulin levels would increase?  Did you think that pancreatic enzymes would be needed to break down food?