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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 25 May 2022, 03:29
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by junipers growing near burning underground veins of lignite coal has never been convincingly explained. Until recently, the accepted theory posited that the abundance of carbon monoxide in the local atmosphere caused the columnar growth. However, a new theory holds that the cause is the persistent heat present near these underground fires which, while not intense enough to inflame the trees, can nonetheless change their normal growth pattern.

The existence of which of the following would provide the strongest support for the new theory?

A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
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A
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 25 May 2022, 05:21
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by junipers growing near burning underground veins of lignite coal has never been convincingly explained. Until recently, the accepted theory posited that the abundance of carbon monoxide in the local atmosphere caused the columnar growth. However, a new theory holds that the cause is the persistent heat present near these underground fires which, while not intense enough to inflame the trees, can nonetheless change their normal growth pattern.

The existence of which of the following would provide the strongest support for the new theory?

junipers has peculiar growth pattern near:
(1) abundance of carbon monoxide
(2) persistent heat present
we have to find a situation, in which the junipers present a columnar growth pattern when there is present (2)

A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
columnar refers to grow pattern, not to the junipers
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
this states that junipers has peculiar columnar growth pattern near (2)
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
same as A.
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
Not exclude (1)
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
Errors of A + D

Feedback appreciated.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 25 May 2022, 14:47
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Bunuel
The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by junipers growing near burning underground veins of lignite coal has never been convincingly explained. Until recently, the accepted theory posited that the abundance of carbon monoxide in the local atmosphere caused the columnar growth. However, a new theory holds that the cause is the persistent heat present near these underground fires which, while not intense enough to inflame the trees, can nonetheless change their normal growth pattern.
Show more


IMO the answer is D.

We need to "strengthen" the new theory as well as "weaken" the previous theory -
1 - persistent( and not intense) heat is the cause of change in growth pattern
2 - carbon monoxide abundance is the cause


A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- weakens (1).
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) but strengthens (2) as well.
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- same reason as in (B)
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) and weakens (2). CORRECT OPTION.
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide
- weakens (1)

Feedback or better approaches are appreciated!
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 02 Jun 2022, 22:31
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If i need to strengthen the new theory, i must prove that the growth pattern displays during the presence of heat and the absence of CO.
If both heat and CO are present, how would i know the real factor leading to growth pattern ?

Cut down to A&B.

The argument never talks about "normal juniper".
Option A wins.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 03 Jun 2022, 10:54
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swarnav31
Bunuel
The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by junipers growing near burning underground veins of lignite coal has never been convincingly explained. Until recently, the accepted theory posited that the abundance of carbon monoxide in the local atmosphere caused the columnar growth. However, a new theory holds that the cause is the persistent heat present near these underground fires which, while not intense enough to inflame the trees, can nonetheless change their normal growth pattern.


IMO the answer is D.

We need to "strengthen" the new theory as well as "weaken" the previous theory -
1 - persistent( and not intense) heat is the cause of change in growth pattern
2 - carbon monoxide abundance is the cause


A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- weakens (1).
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) but strengthens (2) as well.
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- same reason as in (B)
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) and weakens (2). CORRECT OPTION.
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide
- weakens (1)

Feedback or better approaches are appreciated!
Show more

I think the same with you comrade, but it is wrong...Can anybody help? Or pls offer the OE
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 04 Jun 2022, 20:35
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Mavisdu1017
swarnav31

IMO the answer is D.

We need to "strengthen" the new theory as well as "weaken" the previous theory -
1 - persistent( and not intense) heat is the cause of change in growth pattern
2 - carbon monoxide abundance is the cause


A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- weakens (1).
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) but strengthens (2) as well.
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- same reason as in (B)
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) and weakens (2). CORRECT OPTION.
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide
- weakens (1)

Feedback or better approaches are appreciated!

I think the same with you comrade, but it is wrong...Can anybody help? Or pls offer the OE
Show more
The question is the following:

The existence of which of the following would provide the strongest support for the new theory?

The new theory that the correct answer will support is the following:

the cause (of the columnar junipers) is the persistent heat present near these underground fires

Let's consider choice (D).

(D) A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

This case casts doubt on both theories by showing that a juniper can grow normally in a situation in which both proposed causes, heat and high concentration of carbon monoxide, exist.

It's true that the passage mentions "persistent heat," while this choice mentions "intense heat," but since none of the answer choices mentions "persistent heat," or any other type of unusual heat, we have to go with the idea that the question writer meant "intense heat" to represent the type of "persistent heat" conditions mentioned in the passage.

Now, let's consider choice (A).

(A) A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.

In this case, the juniper is columnar when the first proposed cause, high concentration of carbon monoxide, is absent, and the second prooposed cause, heat, is present. So, this case casts doubt on the first theory and supports the new theory by showing that, even without the first cause, a juniper will display the columnar growth pattern in a situatiion in which the second cause is present.

The correct answer is (A).
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 05 Jun 2022, 09:02
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MartyTargetTestPrep
Mavisdu1017
swarnav31

IMO the answer is D.

We need to "strengthen" the new theory as well as "weaken" the previous theory -
1 - persistent( and not intense) heat is the cause of change in growth pattern
2 - carbon monoxide abundance is the cause


A. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- weakens (1).
B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) but strengthens (2) as well.
C. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of normal heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- same reason as in (B)
D. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
- strengthens (1) and weakens (2). CORRECT OPTION.
E. A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide
- weakens (1)

Feedback or better approaches are appreciated!

I think the same with you comrade, but it is wrong...Can anybody help? Or pls offer the OE
The question is the following:

The existence of which of the following would provide the strongest support for the new theory?

The new theory that the correct answer will support is the following:

the cause (of the columnar junipers) is the persistent heat present near these underground fires

Let's consider choice (D).

(D) A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

This case casts doubt on both theories by showing that a juniper can grow normally in a situation in which both proposed causes, heat and high concentration of carbon monoxide, exist.

It's true that the passage mentions "persistent heat," while this choice mentions "intense heat," but since none of the answer choices mentions "persistent heat," or any other type of unusual heat, we have to go with the idea that the question writer meant "intense heat" to represent the type of "persistent heat" conditions mentioned in the passage.

Now, let's consider choice (A).

(A) A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.

In this case, the juniper is columnar when the first proposed cause, high concentration of carbon monoxide, is absent, and the second prooposed cause, heat, is present. So, this case casts doubt on the first theory and supports the new theory by showing that, even without the first cause, a juniper will display the columnar growth pattern in a situatiion in which the second cause is present.

The correct answer is (A).
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MartyTargetTestPrep Much thanks for your response.
we have to go with the idea that the question writer meant "intense heat" to represent the type of "persistent heat" conditions mentioned in the passage——this really confused me. If so, I can understand.
This question might NOT be a good question, as its wording makes testers confused.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 05 Jun 2022, 13:22
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MartyTargetTestPrep Much thanks for your response.
we have to go with the idea that the question writer meant "intense heat" to represent the type of "persistent heat" conditions mentioned in the passage—�—this really confused me. If so, I can understand.
This question might NOT be a good question, as its wording makes testers confused.
Show more
Yes, this question is flawed in that the wording does not make clear that the passage and the answer choices are mentioning similar conditions.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 18 Nov 2025, 11:36
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Hello MartyMurray

if you could please explain why the answer can't be B?

If we have normal juniper displaying columnar growth patterns even in the absence of 1st cause (Carbon monoxide), would it not lend support to the 2nd cause?

I thought the first option won't be feasible because here the juniper is already displaying columnar growth

for us to confirm the alternate cause, we need a normal juniper displaying the highlighted growth


Please if some expert could confirm, would be a great help!!

Thank you so much

KarishmaB
egmat
GMATNinja
MartyTargetTestPrep

The question is the following:

The existence of which of the following would provide the strongest support for the new theory?

The new theory that the correct answer will support is the following:

the cause (of the columnar junipers) is the persistent heat present near these underground fires

Let's consider choice (D).

(D) A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

This case casts doubt on both theories by showing that a juniper can grow normally in a situation in which both proposed causes, heat and high concentration of carbon monoxide, exist.

It's true that the passage mentions "persistent heat," while this choice mentions "intense heat," but since none of the answer choices mentions "persistent heat," or any other type of unusual heat, we have to go with the idea that the question writer meant "intense heat" to represent the type of "persistent heat" conditions mentioned in the passage.

Now, let's consider choice (A).

(A) A columnar juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.

In this case, the juniper is columnar when the first proposed cause, high concentration of carbon monoxide, is absent, and the second prooposed cause, heat, is present. So, this case casts doubt on the first theory and supports the new theory by showing that, even without the first cause, a juniper will display the columnar growth pattern in a situatiion in which the second cause is present.

The correct answer is (A).
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 18 Nov 2025, 21:50
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Hello MartyMurray

if you could please explain why the answer can't be B?

If we have normal juniper displaying columnar growth patterns even in the absence of 1st cause (Carbon monoxide), would it not lend support to the 2nd cause?

I thought the first option won't be feasible because here the juniper is already displaying columnar growth

for us to confirm the alternate cause, we need a normal juniper displaying the highlighted growth


Please if some expert could confirm, would be a great help!!

Thank you so much

KarishmaB
egmat
GMATNinja

Show more

B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.

Option (B) does not say that the juniper displays columnar growth. It clearly says "normal juniper" so the juniper grows as it should in the absence of CO but presence of intense heat. It weakens the new theory.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 18 Nov 2025, 23:04
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Hi KarishmaB!

Appreciate the reply!

Just wanted to elaborate on that-

Actually, yes (B) does not tell us normal juniper displays columnar growth patterns

by that what I meant was, say we have normal juniper growing amidst intense heat and absence of CO

Now within a period of time if this normal juniper starts growing in a columnar pattern, won't it lend support to the theory?

whereas in (a), we already have columnar juniper
it has grown in a columnar pattern, not in a normal pattern

so even if you make this columnar juniper grow amidst intense heart but absence of CO, what does it confirm

It is any which way columnar



KarishmaB


B. A normal juniper growing in an atmosphere of intense heat and an absence of carbon monoxide.

Option (B) does not say that the juniper displays columnar growth. It clearly says "normal juniper" so the juniper grows as it should in the absence of CO but presence of intense heat. It weakens the new theory.
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The cause of the peculiar columnar growth pattern displayed by juniper 18 Nov 2025, 23:14
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Normal and columnar are not inherent characteristics of a juniper. The way it grew defines it as 'normal' or 'columnar'. The way it grew depends on the environment. So it is not that a juniper starts normally and then changes midway to columnar because of environment. Only one or the other type of growth happens based on the environment. So a normal juniper in high heat only shows that heat doesn't lead to columnar growth. The normal juniper doesn't change midway to columnar.

RiyaJ0032
Hi KarishmaB!

Appreciate the reply!

Just wanted to elaborate on that-

Actually, yes (B) does not tell us normal juniper displays columnar growth patterns

by that what I meant was, say we have normal juniper growing amidst intense heat and absence of CO

Now within a period of time if this normal juniper starts growing in a columnar pattern, won't it lend support to the theory?

whereas in (a), we already have columnar juniper
it has grown in a columnar pattern, not in a normal pattern

so even if you make this columnar juniper grow amidst intense heart but absence of CO, what does it confirm

It is any which way columnar




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