GS-1 Verbal Reasoning Question 33

[nathan.blu4013]

The author describes the effect of the sun's radiation on the general circulation of the atmosphere (paragraph 6), in order to counter the claim that:

1. colder climates may result in decreased precipitation.[x]
2. high carbon dioxide concentrations contribute to greater precipitation.[x]
3. when weathering processes are greater, carbonate deposition increases.[x]
4. a colder climate is accompanied by increased precipitation and a warmer climate by decreased precipitation.[x]

INCORRECT:
Your Answer: A
Correct Answer: D

---Why is A wrong? In *direct* reference to the passage, the author states that "Thus with decreased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere there will be colder climates and greater precipitation." Even if not looking at the new theory: "If the sun's radiation is decreased, the earth's surface becomes cooler...less precipitation. Hence colder climates,...will also result in less snow"

The author then uses the "theories of variable solar energy" to COUNTER the stated arguments that colder climates have less precipitation...not support them!!

...the solution provided does not make sense! It is in direct opposition to this.

[asfi]

i agree, wouldn't it be d only if the question read "...in order to support the claim that:"

[andrew.bra3483]

Yes, imho the answer should be A and not D.

P6 S1 "The theory has been criticized on the grounds that it [the theory] assumes that a colder climate is accompanied by increased precipitation." The theory links colder climate and increased precipitation. The criticism therefore links a colder climate with decreased precipitation. The rest of P6 spells out the line of argument of that criticism. P6 ends with a note that "several theories of variable solar energy ... run afoul" of this critical line of argument.

Having laid out the critical argument in P6, the author lays out how the new CO2 theory works in P7. P7 lays out how the new CO2 theory links cooler climates with increased precipitation.

[jellywing_2058]

The question says to find the answer in paragraph 6. There is no mention of CO2 in this paragraph; therefore options B and C are eliminated.

The question "The author describes the effect of the sun's radiation on the general circulation of the atmosphere (paragraph 6), in order to counter the claim that:" can be reformulated to:

The author describes the effect of the sun's radiation on the general circulation of the atmosphere (paragraph 6). Which of the following contradicts the author’s discussion?

It is then obvious that the correct answer is option D.

[admin]

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