PiyushK wrote:
The storms most studied by climatologists have been those that are most easily understood by taking atmospheric measurements. Hurricanes and tornadoes, for example, are spatially confined, the forces that drive them are highly concentrated, and they have distinctive forms and readily quantifiable characteristics. Consequently, data about them are abundant, and their behavior is relatively well understood, although still difficult to predict.
Hurricanes and tornadoes are also studied because they are highly destructive storms, and knowledge about their behavior can help minimize injury to people and property. But other equally destructive storms have not been so thoroughly researched, perhaps because they are more difficult to study. A primary example is the northeaster, a type of coastal storm that causes significant damage along the eastern coast of North America. Northeasters, whose diffuse nature makes them difficult to categorize, are relatively weak low-pressure systems with winds that rarely acquire the strength of even the smallest hurricane. Although northeasters are perceived to be less destructive than other storms, the high waves associated with strong northeasters can cause damage comparable to that of a hurricane, because they can affect stretches of coast more than 1,500 kilometers long, whereas hurricanes typically threaten a relatively small ribbon of coastline—roughly 100 to 150 kilometers.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) evaluate the relative amounts of damage caused by different storm types
(B) describe the difficulties of classifying destructive storms by type
(C) examine the relationship between wave height and the destructive potential of storms
(D) discuss a theory that explains the origins of violent storms
(E) discuss reasons why certain types of storms receive more study than others
2. According to the passage, which of the following is true of northeasters?
(A) They have only recently been identified as a distinct storm type.
(B) They are more destructive than tornadoes.
(C) They are low-pressure systems.
(D) They affect a relatively small segment of the eastern coast of North America.
(E) Their winds are typically as strong as those of small hurricanes.
3. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about storms that lend themselves to atmospheric measurements?
(A) They are more likely than other storms to be studied by climatologists.
(B) They are likely to be less highly concentrated than are other storms.
(C) They are likely to be more difficult to predict than are other storms.
(D) They occur less frequently along the eastern coast of North America than in other areas.
(E) They tend to affect larger areas than do other storms.
B
Based on information from the passage, the author is most likely to agree with the statement in the second choice: northeasters need to be studied. The author establishes that knowledge about the behavior of storms can help diminish damage, then states, But other equally destructive storms have not been so thoroughly researched.
The first choice is not correct; the passage actually suggests the contrary, that more knowledge might help reduce injury to people and property.
The third choice is also incorrect. The passage indicates that northeaster damage can be assessed even if the storms themselves are difficult to study. The last sentence addresses damage done by a northeaster's high waves but does not indicate that the damage is harder to assess than hurricane damage.
The fourth choice is incorrect; there is nothing in the passage to indicate that northeasters occur less often than hurricanes and tornadoes.
The fifth choice is also not correct. Although the author does say of northeasters that their diffuse nature makes them difficult to categorize, there is nothing in the passage to suggest that northeasters should not be studied; on the contrary, their being as destructive as hurricanes and their threat to larger areas of coastline suggest that they should be studied.
4. With which of the following statements about northeasters would the author of the passage most likely agree?
(A) Even increased knowledge about the behavior of northeasters is unlikely to reduce the injury to people and property that they cause.
(B) Northeasters are deserving of closer study by climatologists than they have received in the past.
(C) Damage caused by northeasters is less easily assessed than damage caused by hurricanes.
(D) Northeasters are more difficult to study than are hurricanes and tornadoes because northeasters occur less often.
(E) Northeasters are too diffuse to warrant close study by climatologists.
I start by reading through the content and summarizing the main points of the paragraphs.
[*] Hurricanes/Tornados are uniquely formed, data heavy, destructive, and unpredictable
[*] Other storms besides H/T are also destructive, like NEers
[*] NEers are diffuse, low-pressure, large range, and difficult to study
1) Question 1 asks the primary purpose, my notes and memory tell me the content is mostly descriptive and moves from H/T to NEers
A is incorrect since there is no focus on the amount of damage caused.
B is incorrect since H/T are easier to classify, and those types were described.
C doesn't apply to tornados, that's eliminated.
D isn't mentioned at all in the content.
E is the best answer since there is a strong focus on the data heavy H/T vs the rarely studied northeasters.
2) Question 2 wants us to identify the truth of northeasters.
A is incorrect since there is no mention of when it was identified. Just that it's rarely studied.
B is incorrect because NEers are ONLY compared to hurricanes.
D doesn't apply since NEers can impact a 1500km coast vs a hurricane impacting a small ribbon of coastline
E is wrong since the opposite is stated "winds that rarely acquire the strength of even the smallest hurricane"
C is correct since we do see "relatively weak low-pressure systems" in reference to NEers
3) Question 3 requests we infer about "storms that lend themselves to atmospheric measurements" aka data heavy
B is the opposite of what's mentioned in the content. Storms should be concentrated for them to be easier to study.
C is incorrect because this would apply to ALL storm types.
D only applies to NEers which are difficult to study.
E contradicts the content because NEers can impact a larger coastline than hurricanes.
A is the most correct since data heavy storms are easier to study, they would be favored by climatologists.
4) Question 4 wants us to identify the statement that aligns with the authors purpose.
A is incorrect, there is a connection between increased studying of H/T that reduces injury.
C doesn't apply since this is not the focus of the content.
D states that NEers occur less often, which is never hinted at or mentioned in the content.
E tries to imply that NEers being too diffuse is the ONLY reason to warrant close study, but the content mentions they are difficult to study.
B is the most correct since it clarifies that NEers haven't received closer study and are deserving of closer study.
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Updated on: 18 Aug 2019, 22:16
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(02:17) wrong 
