Because of the proximity and likeness of Mars to Earth, scientists hav

Hi GMATNinja & VeritasKarishma
I was wondering could one of you experts please explain why option C is incorrect for Q3? In the passage, we are given that "More recent probes have focused on whether there was once water on Mars. Some scientists believe that this question is definitively answered by the presence of certain geological landforms." We know that the question is certainly answered but we don't know if its a yes or a no that the water does exist on Mars. Based on this I opted for option C. Option A I can see why it can be a right answer because in the passage, we are given that "...Wind erosion OR carbon dioxide oceans, may be responsible for these formations" whereas option A says "Wind erosion AND carbon dioxide oceans are responsible for certain geological landforms on Mars". I am not fully satisfied with option A being the correct answer as it merely hinges on one technical word; however, I can see why it can be the right answer.

Hello Udai
manjot123 Impressed by your performance!
jaisrajat
RaquelR1409
JS1290

Guys! there were few errors with questions so i have removed the question #1 and replaced question # 3 and 4. Please take this passage again and report your revised performance. I will post the OE in 24 hours.

Thanks

1. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?

(A) disproving a widely accepted theory Incorrect. No theory discussed.
(B) initiating a debate about the possibility of life on Mars. Incorrect. No debate. The passage is most one sided.
(C) presenting evidence in support of a controversial claim. Incorrect. Findings are discussed but there is no controversy.
(D) describing the various discoveries made concerning the possibility of life on Mars. Correct. The passage revolves around the possibility of life on Mars. This is the main point.
(E) detailing the findings of the Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit. Incorrect .Partial scope.

2. Each of the following discoveries is mentioned in the passage EXCEPT

(A) Wind erosion and carbon dioxide oceans are responsible for certain geological landforms on Mars. Correct. This is a speculation and not a discovery. Others posit that different explanations, such as wind erosion or carbon dioxide oceans, may be responsible for these formations.
(B) Mars does not have a substantial global magnetic field. Incorrect. Mentioned.
(C) Mars does not currently have water activity. Incorrect. Mentioned.
(D) The length of day on Mars is similar to that on Earth. Incorrect. Mentioned.
(E) The axial tilt of Mars is similar to that of Earth. Incorrect. Mentioned.

3. The passage suggests which of the following about polar ice caps?

(A) Until recently, the ones on Mars were thought to consist largely of carbon dioxide. Incorrect.
(B) The ones on Mars are made almost entirely of frozen water. Incorrect
(C) They are also found on Earth. Correct. As early as the mid 17th century, astronomers observed polar ice caps on Mars, and by the mid-19th century, scientists discovered other similarities to Earth, including the length of day and axial tilt.
(D) Their formation is tied to length of day and axial tilt. Incorrect.
(E) They indicate that conditions on the planet Mars were once very different than they are at present. Incorrect.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists would be more likely to suspect that Mars once held life if there were evidence of which of the following features?

(A) Carbon dioxide oceans. Incorrect.
(B) Celestial radiation and solar wind. Incorrect.
(C) High daily level of sunlight reaching the planet's surface. Incorrect
(D) Volcanic eruptions. Incorrect.
(E) A significant global magnetic field. Correct. This is suggested by the line "And in the 1990s, it was discovered that Mars, unlike Earth, no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field,"

in question 5 how can B be inferred … pls explain

Hi

Few basically means lack of something

The first para says " scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars. As early as the mid-17th century "

This means that scientists have been working before the 17th century and got some healthy results in 17th and dr was some lack of evidence before that.

is this an Official Question?

Hello jaisrajat

This passage belongs to Manhattan GMAT Prep. See the tags attached with the question.

The question 4 is asking that the scientist will doubt about life on Mars if it’s found. In that case should be answer. Please clarify.

Kindly elaborate more on the intended meaning of Question 4.

Hi robu1,

Intended meaning of question 4 is : Which of the following evidence would help Scientists suspect that there was once life on Mars.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

VeritasKarishma GMATNinja - for question 3, why is E wrong ?

Reason why I chose E is because :

1) The passage does say, that astronomers observed polar ice caps on Mars in 17th century.

2) The passage then says, actually in 1965 -- the Mariner took photos of Mars and there were no rivers or oceans.

Thus, in the 17th century, ice caps were present on Mars and now in the 1960's onwards, ice caps are no longer there

The obvious inference is, the conditions on Mars changed because the ice-caps are no longer present as of 1960.

Hence the ice-caps indicated at one times, conditions were different so much so, that ice caps were possible on Mars at one time

It is important to note the timelines here.

The first paragraph suggests that polar ice caps were observed in 17th century (no proof) and other similarities were observed in 19th century. This would suggest that life may exist on Mars to because it is similar to Earth.

But the second paragraph clarifies that things are not so. Upon close observation by more recent probes (perhaps 20th century), we know that there is no water now. The question is whether there was water at some point. The geographical features observed today could be because of water or they could be because of other things such as carbon dioxide oceans (what astronomers thought in 20th century so 17th century observations are annulled).

But the rovers have now (2004 onwards) discovered evidence that there was water at some point. When, we don't know.

Can we say that Mars was much different once? Polar ice caps do not indicate any such thing.

The only thing that the passage suggests about polar ice caps is that Earth has those too.

I don't understand explanation for Question 4.

I actually chose A as the answer for option 4. In the official explanation for A, as I understand, Carbon dioxide oceans and certain land formations are taken as absence of water on Mars. Can someone explain why? To me, it seems as if bringing outside knowledge. VeritasKarishma Sajjad1994

Sajjad1994, this passage is tagged as a "business" passage. Could you please change the tag to "science"? The tag might mislead a few people.

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