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Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
09 Apr 2004, 15:49
1
Kudos
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider (5) and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were--reptiles or birds-are among the ques- tions scientists have puzzled over. Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the (10) pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a winglike membrane. (15) The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a (20) pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal's body. The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in (25) their overall structure and proportions. This is not sur- prising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that repre- sents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these (30) bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts. Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T.H. Huxley rea- soned that flying vertebrates must have been warm- blooded because flying implies a high rate of (35) metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal tem- perature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and (40) relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct. Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air- borne have led to suggestions that they launched them- selves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees. (45) or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs' hind feet rese- mbled a bat's and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second (50) hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to (55) control their flight once airborne.
1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the (A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances (B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats (C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight (D) pterosaurs were reptiles (E) pterosaurs walked on all fours
2. The ideas attributed to T.H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements? (A) An animal's brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors. (B) An animal's appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities. (C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time. (D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation. (E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs? (A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use. (B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight. (C) They flew in order to capture prey. (D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds. (E) They lived primarily in a forestlike habitat.
4.Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage? (A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view. (B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information. (C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given. (D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected (E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.
5. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs (A) lived near large bodies of water (B) had sharp teeth for tearing food (C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles (D) had longer tails than many birds (E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature
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Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
11 Apr 2004, 22:11
1
Kudos
Monarc, Anand and Aspire are right. Paul, cbrf3 were very close.
Guys, please try to explain your solutions and strategies.
I hope our efforts of running this challenge series is paying off for you guys. I hope to see more guys participate.
Quote:
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider (5) and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were--reptiles or birds-are among the ques- tions scientists have puzzled over. Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the (10) pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a winglike membrane. (15) The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a (20) pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal's body. The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in (25) their overall structure and proportions. This is not sur- prising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that repre- sents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these (30) bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts. Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T.H. Huxley rea- soned that flying vertebrates must have been warm- blooded because flying implies a high rate of (35) metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal tem- perature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and (40) relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct. Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air- borne have led to suggestions that they launched them- selves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees. (45) or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs' hind feet rese- mbled a bat's and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second (50) hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to (55) control their flight once airborne.
Quote:
1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the (A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances (B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats (C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight (D) pterosaurs were reptiles (E) pterosaurs walked on all fours
Answer: D
Quote:
2. The ideas attributed to T.H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements? (A) An animal's brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors. (B) An animal's appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities. (C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time. (D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation. (E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.
Answer: B
Quote:
3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs? (A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use. (B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight. (C) They flew in order to capture prey. (D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds. (E) They lived primarily in a forestlike habitat.
Answer : A
Quote:
4.Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage? (A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view. (B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information. (C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given. (D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected (E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.
Answer: B
Quote:
5. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs (A) lived near large bodies of water (B) had sharp teeth for tearing food (C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles (D) had longer tails than many birds (E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
12 Apr 2004, 05:26
Can one of you point out where the reference to the source of water is in question 5? I did not like B as there were ref. to claws only but not teeth. Yet, I picked it because I could find no other better answer...
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
12 Apr 2004, 06:07
Paul wrote:
Can one of you point out where the reference to the source of water is in question 5? I did not like B as there were ref. to claws only but not teeth. Yet, I picked it because I could find no other better answer...
Quote:
Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air- borne have led to suggestions that they launched them- selves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees. (45) or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves.
Refer to the last 10 or so lines...where many theories were put forward as to how these creatures managed to fly.. one of them was the "waves" theory.
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
12 Apr 2004, 06:39
Oh, it is really dumb but I totally missed that. I read quickly and thought "waves" refered to wind brisks as a a few words back, there was mention of "light winds". Obviously, I misunderstood that part
Thanks Praet
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
12 Apr 2004, 07:31
Paul wrote:
Oh, it is really dumb but I totally missed that. I read quickly and thought "waves" refered to wind brisks as a a few words back, there was mention of "light winds". Obviously, I misunderstood that part Thanks Praet
Dear Paul
Do not be so hard on yourself. you are doing great.
the whole point of this challenge is to help you. speed reading is an art that will come through practice.
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
12 Apr 2004, 08:45
ndidi204 wrote:
I've solved that passage in the past so I chose not to do it again. I have a very strong memory and tend to remember answers.
Thanks Praet for these passages. Great practice for us all.
thanks, but its you guys who make my plans possible. your incredible response and participation encourages me to scour the internet and find quality questions.
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs
[#permalink]
25 Oct 2010, 07:30
Hi All,
Pls help to discuss your strategies in timing. I could see most of you finished in less than 10 mins. that is great . comparatively I am much slower than many of you. I took 16 mins.
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
gmatclubot
Re: Fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, pterosaurs [#permalink]