Climatic conditions are delicately adjusted to the composition of the

Question

Climatic conditions are delicately adjusted to the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. If there were a change in the atmosphere—for example, in the relative proportions of atmospheric gases—the climate would probably change also. A slight increase in water vapor, for instance, would increase the heat-retaining capacity of the atmosphere and would lead to a rise in global temperatures. In contrast, a large increase in water vapor would increase the thickness and extent of the cloud layer, reducing the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface.

The level of carbon dioxide, CO2, in the atmosphere has an important effect on climatic change. Most of the Earth’s incoming energy is short-wavelength radiation, which tends to pass through atmospheric CO2 easily. The Earth, however, reradiates much of the received energy as long-wavelength radiation, which CO2 absorbs and then remits toward the Earth. This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, can result in an increase in the surface temperature of a planet. An extreme example of the effect is shown by  Venus , a planet covered by heavy clouds composed mostly of CO2, whose surface temperatures have been measured at 430℃. If the CO2 content of the atmosphere is reduced, the temperature falls. According to one respectable theory, if the atmospheric CO2 concentration were halved, the Earth would become completely covered with ice. Another equally respectable theory, however, states that a halving of the CO2 concentration would lead only to a reduction in global temperatures of 3℃.

If, because of an increase in forest fires or volcanic activity, the CO2 content of the atmosphere increased, a warmer climate would be produced. Plant growth, which relies on both the warmth and the availability of CO2 would probably increase. As a consequence, plants would use more and more CO2. Eventually CO2 levels would diminish and the climate, in turn, would become cooler. With reduced temperatures many plants would die; CO2 would thereby be returned to the atmosphere and gradually the temperature would rise again. Thus, if this process occurred, there might be a long-term oscillation in the amount of CO2 present in the atmosphere, with regular temperature increases and decreases of a set magnitude.

Some climatologists argue that the burning of fossil fuels has raised the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and has caused a global temperature increase of at least 1℃. But a supposed global temperature rise of 1℃ may in reality be only several regional temperature increases, restricted to areas where there are many meteorological stations and caused simply by shifts in the pattern of atmospheric circulation. Other areas, for example the Southern Hemisphere oceanic zone, may be experiencing an equivalent temperature decrease that is unrecognized because of the shortage of meteorological recording stations.    1 
 1. The passage supplies information for answering which of the following questions?

(A) Why are projections of the effects of changes in water vapor levels on the climate so inaccurate?
(B) What are the steps in the process that takes place as CO2 absorbs long-wavelength radiation?
(C) How might our understanding of the greenhouse effect be improved if the burning of fossil fuels were decreased?
(D) What might cause a series of regular increases and decreases in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?
(E) Why are there fewer meteorological recording stations in the Southern Hemisphere oceanic zone than elsewhere?

2 
 2. The author is primarily concerned with

(A) explaining the effects that the burning of fossil fuels might have on climate
(B) illustrating the effects of CO2 on atmospheric radiation
(C) discussing effects that changes in the CO2 level in the atmosphere might have on climate
(D) challenging hypotheses about the effects of water vapor and CO2 on climate
(E) refuting hypotheses by climatologists about the causes of global temperature fluctuations

3 
 3. The passage suggests that a large decrease in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would result in

(A) at least a slight decrease in global temperatures
(B) at the most a slight increase in short-wavelength radiation reaching the Earth
(C) a slight long-term increase in global temperatures
(D) a large long-term increase in the amount of volcanic activity
(E) a slight short-term increase in atmosphere water vapor content

4 
 4. The author refers to  Venus  primarily in order to

(A) show the inherent weakness of the greenhouse effect theory
(B) show that the greenhouse effect works on other planets but not on Earth
(C) show the extent to which Earth’s atmosphere differs from that of Venus
(D) support the contention that as water vapor increase, the amount of CO2 increases
(E) support the argument that the CO2 level in the atmosphere has a significant effect on climate

5 
 5. The passage suggests that if there were a slight global warming at the present time, it would be

(A) easy to measure the exact increase in temperature because of the abundance of temperature recording stations throughout the world
(B) difficult to measure the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere because of local variations in amounts
(C) easy to demonstrate the effects of the warming on the water vapor in the atmosphere
(D) difficult to prove that the warming was caused by the burning of fossil fuels
(E) easy to prove that the warming was caused by an increase of cloud cover

6 
 6. The discussion of climate in the passage suggests which of the following conclusion?

I. Climate is not perfectly stable, and slight regional temperature variations can be considered a normal feature of the environment.
II. We are unable at present to measure global temperature changes precisely.
III. The most important cause of regional climatic fluctuations is the change in CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

7 
 7. All of the following can be found in the author’s discussion of climate EXCEPT

(A) a statement about the effects of increased volcanic activity on the Earth’s temperatures
(B) an indication of the effect of an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere
(C) a contrast between two theories about the effects of a lowering of CO2 levels in the atmosphere
(D) a generalization about the efficiency of meteorological recording stations
(E) a hypothesis about the relationship between atmospheric gases and changes in climate

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 85 Date: 02-Mar-2021
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Anshuman0902 · Answer

hey sajjad1994 OE for question 5 !
thanx !

neetib · Answer

Sajjad1994  -Please provide OE of ques 5

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Text in the passage which supports the answer of question #5 is In the  last paragraph:

Some climatologists argue that the burning of fossil fuels has raised the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and has caused a global temperature increase of at least 1℃.   But   a supposed global temperature rise of 1℃ may in reality be only several regional temperature increases, restricted to areas where there are many meteorological stations and caused simply by shifts in the pattern of atmospheric circulation.

Answer  option B  here is trap which wrongly uses the text of the passage and convert the attention of the test taker. It is just putting something valid by the passage  But  is not related to a particular question.

Thank you

Haripriya26 · Answer

Hey Sajjad, please provide explanation for Q.5, 6 & 7.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5. The passage suggests that if there were a slight global warming at the present time, it would be

Difficulty Level:   700+

Explanation

Lets read each answer choice one by one.

(A) easy to measure the exact increase in temperature because of the abundance of temperature recording stations throughout the world

This is actually 180, the contrary to this has been discussed in the passage.

(B) difficult to measure the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere because of local variations in amounts

This is a canny answer looks promising as we read it but it is incorrect. The function of CO2 in the atmospheric change has been discussed in  paragraph 2

"This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, can result in an increase in the surface temperature of a planet."

Later in paragraph 2

"Another equally respectable theory, however, states that a halving of the CO2 concentration would lead only to a reduction in global temperatures of 3℃."

Paragraphs 3 and 4  also discuss CO2 but at any point, we cannot infer option B. Answer  option B  here is a trap that wrongly uses the text of the passage and converts the attention of the test taker. It is just putting something valid by the passage But is not related to a particular question.

(C) easy to demonstrate the effects of the warming on the water vapor in the atmosphere

Out of scope

(D) difficult to prove that the warming was caused by the burning of fossil fuels

D  is correct. The overall tone of the passage suggests that  D  is correct, it is difficult to support this option by some single word or phrase what we have read overall in the passage about global warming suggest the  answer D

(E) easy to prove that the warming was caused by an increase of cloud cover

Out of scope.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. The discussion of climate in the passage suggests which of the following conclusion?

Difficulty Level:   700+

Explanation

I. Climate is not perfectly stable, and slight regional temperature variations can be considered a normal feature of the environment.

This is stated in Paragraph 1

II. We are unable at present to measure global temperature changes precisely.

This is stated many a time in the passage in different phrases also in the last paragraph

III. The most important cause of regional climatic fluctuations is the change in CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

"The most important cause"  The quoted phrase is an example of extreme answer choices, test makers use some extreme words to throw the statement out of the scope of the passage.

So we can only detect I and II but not III

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

7. All of the following can be found in the author’s discussion of climate EXCEPT

Difficulty Level:   700+

Explanation

This is an except question so we have to find something which is not discussed in the passage

(A) a statement about the effects of increased volcanic activity on the Earth’s temperatures

This is discussed in paragraph 3

(B) an indication of the effect of an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere

This is discussed in paragraph 1

(C) a contrast between two theories about the effects of a lowering of CO2 levels in the atmosphere

This is a good trap but this has also been discussed in the last paragraph

(D) a generalization about the efficiency of meteorological recording stations

This has never been discussed and is correct.

(E) a hypothesis about the relationship between atmospheric gases and changes in climate

This is discussed in paragraph 1

Answer: D

Hetabh · Answer

Hi,

The second option is still incorrect if we look at the sentence carefully. It suggests that the  measurement  of the temperature poses difficulty. In the passage, however, the measurement can be conducted quite accurately (1 degree increase / drop) but the explanation as to why the temperature difference has occured is difficult to articulate. Hence, IMO the correct answer is A. Thanks

VerbalBot · Answer

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Climatic conditions are delicately adjusted to the composition of the

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