Question

how does the structure of the skull help prevent injury to the brain?
○ the elastic bones of the skull help the skull reshape itself to prevent breakage.
○ the fused bones of the skull lessen the impact on the brain.
○ the spongy bones of the skull cause the ball to bounce off the head.
○ the joints in the skull move to prevent the football from hitting the head.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: Skull bones are not elastic in a way to reshape for prevention; they are rigid. So this is incorrect.
• Analyze Option 2: The skull's bones are fused (like cranial bones), and this fused structure helps distribute and lessen impact forces on the brain, protecting it. This makes sense.
• Analyze Option 3: Skull bones aren't spongy in a way to make a ball bounce off, and the question is about brain injury prevention, not ball bouncing. Incorrect.
• Analyze Option 4: Skull bones (except for some in infancy) are fused, not having movable joints to move and prevent a football hit. Incorrect.

Answer:

B. The fused bones of the skull lessen the impact on the brain.