Alcohol is a depressant, which means that even small amounts of alcohol slow down the actions of parts of the brain, so alcohol lengthens the time you take to respond to a stimulus. Different people react differently to alcohol. In some people, it increases their feelings of aggression, and releases their inhibitions so that they are more likely to be violent or commit other crimes. An alcoholic needs to drink quite large quantities of alcohol regularly. This causes many parts of the body to be damaged, because alcohol is poisonous to cells. Probably, there are many factors which decide whether or not a person becomes alcoholic. Over a long period of time, it can cause loss of memory and confusion. One way in which the damage is done is that alcohol in the body fluids draws water out of cells by osmosis.
Effect of alcohol on cells is -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Shrinking of cells
The passage says alcohol in the body fluids draws water out of cells by osmosis. A cell that loses water shrinks.
Option (1) Swelling of cells — Incorrect. Cells swell when water enters, not when it leaves.
Option (2) Shrinking of cells — Correct. Alcohol draws water out of the cells, so the cells lose water and shrink. This is why alcohol causes dehydration.
Option (3) Bursting of cells — Incorrect. A cell bursts only when too much water enters it. Alcohol draws water out of cells, so they lose water and shrink instead of bursting.
Option (4) Reduction in cell number — Incorrect. The passage describes damage to cells, not a fall in their number.