Question

if the environment gets cold, we will often shiver in order to:
decrease body temperature
regulate blood pressure
increase body temperature
keep body temperature the same as the external temperature

Explanation:

Shivering is a physiological response to cold. When we shiver, our muscles contract rapidly, which generates heat. This heat production helps to increase our body temperature to maintain homeostasis (the body's internal balance) when the external environment is cold.

• Option "decrease body temperature" is incorrect because shivering is a response to cold and aims to warm the body, not cool it.
• Option "regulate blood pressure" is incorrect as shivering is related to temperature regulation, not blood pressure regulation.
• Option "keep body temperature the same as the external temperature" is incorrect because the body's goal is to maintain its internal temperature (around 37°C) regardless of the external temperature, not match it.
• Option "increase body temperature" is correct because the muscle contractions during shivering produce heat, which raises the body's temperature to counteract the cold environment.

Answer:

C. increase body temperature