7 mins 41 secs... Got 6 out of 7. Great passage and great questions. Very challenging yet somehow doable.
Will post my thoughts on individual solutions in an edit to this post.
Edit 1:
Summary/Main point: Author is optimistic that starting to convert to solar from conventional energy can help us solve the thermal pollution problem. Lots of info about positive feedback loop.. effects of excess heat and why conservation is no good as it will only delay but not solve the problem is presented by the author.
need to understand the main point of the passage to tackle this. 1. The author is primarily concerned with(A) describing a phenomenon and explaining its causes
TRAP - if the thermal pollution was the phenomenon then author just does not explain causes but goes ahead and talks a lot about solution as well. Discard(B) outlining a position and supporting it with statistics
Discard. Too vague and does not capture the central idea.(C) isolating an ambiguity and clarifying it by definition
There is no ambiguity. Discard(D) presenting a problem and advocating a solution for it
Perfect. The author does exactly this.(E) citing a counterargument and refuting it
BS option. Discard.Detail question. Pretty straightforward as it is mentioned verbatim in the passage2. According to the passage, all of the following are factors which will tend to increase thermal pollution EXCEPT(A) the earth’s increasing population
Yep. The population growth part(B) melting of the polar ice caps
TRAP - this is both the result of and also a cause of... Refer to positive feedback process.(C) increase in per capita energy consumption
Yep. This is the per capita increment part leading to more demand overall .(D) pressure to redress standard of living inequities by increasing energy consumption
yep.. me tioned in the passage that such inequalities speed up the growth of energy demand as energy becomes cheap(E) expected anomalies in weather patterns
Bingo - this is a pure effect of increase in thermal pollutionDetail question. Positive feedback is explained in melting of icecaps.. which is a result of thermal pollution causes less reflection of suns rays leading to more melting.. like a positive feedback loop3. The positive feedback mentioned in means that the melting of the polar ice caps will(A) reduce per capita energy consumption
BS option. Discard(B) accelerate the transition to solar energy
BS option. discard(C) intensify the effects of thermal pollution
BINGO! Exactly mentioned in passage(D) necessitate a shift to alternative energy sources
TRAP - vague indirect result of this.. but not explaining what it does directly.(E) result in the inundations of major cities
discard... Does mention about submergence of costal areas but the option is vague...Interesting question. This feels like a CR inside a RC passage. The position of the statement comes right after conservation of energy alternative is introduced only to point out that conservation is a temporary solution unlike what it's proponents convey. Hence it is a counterpoint to it.4. The author mentions the possibility of energy conservation in order to(A) preempt and refute a possible objection to his position
Bingo! You beauty.. (B) support directly the central thesis of the passage
opposite.. discard.(C) minimize the significance of a contradiction in the passage
there is no contradiction in the passage(D) prove that such measures are ineffective and counterproductive
TRAP #1: this may be true but this is not the purpose of the statement as used by the author. Need to think from a CR point of view here... This is a classic real world trap.(E) supply the reader with additional background information
too vague. Discard.Q5 - Didn't get this one.. will add explanation in an edit if I find one or come up with new ideas. easiest of the lot. Pretty straightforward if you understand the main point6. The tone of the passage is best describe as one of(A) unmitigated outrage
BS option discard(B) cautious optimism
Bingo! The author wants to caution about the evils of current way of life and it's draw back while showing that solar energy ( shifting to it right away) will solve the problem.(C) reckless abandon
discard(D) smug self-assurance
BS option. Almost an insult to your intellect(E) pronounced alarm
TRAP - this may seem the case if you focus only on the first half of the passage... Overall this is not the time as it is too extreme keeping in light the way the author ends the passageFollow up passage question . I always mix up these but here it is pretty straightforward due to options and the last sentence of passage7. Which of the following would be the most logical topic for the author to address in a succeeding paragraph?
(A) The problems of nuclear safety and waste disposal
irrelevant to discussion. Discard(B) A history of the development of solar energy
Trap - eventgoughwe are looking for solar energy .. history would be irrelevant to the discussion... Which talks about next steps (C) The availability and cost of solar energy technology
Bingo! Perfect cohesion with the last part which talks about costs etc..(D) The practical effects of flooding of coastal cities
BS option. Almost one the verge of insane.(E) The feasibility of geothermal energy
also a plausible candidate .. but discard as the author mentions that "solar is the only way forward" so it is likely that he would talk about next steps with solar in mind
Phew! That was one helluva passage and writing this post took me around 30+ mins... Hope you liked it. Let me know.Best,
Gladi