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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 6): Climatologists claim: The recent

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Climatologists claim: The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change. This pattern results from increased global temperatures, which enhance the rate of water evaporation and lead to more stored moisture in the atmosphere. When the moisture is released, it results in heavy rains following drought periods. The discovery that similar weather patterns occurred during the Pliocene Epoch, when the earth experienced higher global temperatures, supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change.

The argument in the passage relies on which of the following assumptions?

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns. Wrong Choice
Even if this is false, it does not break the conclusion.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch. Correct choice
This choice conveys that other factors did not significantly influence weather patterns. It means that there was no other major cause of the change in weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible. Wrong Choice
Not an assumption made in the argument.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase. Wrong Choice
Not an assumption made in the argument.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change. Wrong Choice
Irrelevant

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Conclusion: climate change causes weather patterns.
Additional info: pattern results from increased global temperatures
Assumption: other than temperatures, nothing influences weather patterns. Option B.
Also, you can negate B to see that argument falls apart. B is correct.

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Author derived his argument from the comparison with Pliocene Epoch. C,D,E doesn't talk about it hence out.

Now A vs B

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
What conditions ??

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
So it was clearly because of climate change and nothing else. Hence B.

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Here Author is citing an past incident to support a current assumption/conclusion.

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
The underlyig assumption of the passage to hold true is A. Author clearly suggests that similar whether pattern in Pliocene Epoch was caused by rise in temperature and hence current similar whether pattern must also be caused due to similar rise in global temperature.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
This also feels like an assumption for author's position to hold true. Howeever upon deeper checks, this is not a necessary assumption. Other factors mgiht have played some part, but since temeprature increased and similar whether patterns were observed, and such things are getting repeated curretly, whcih also could be because of rise in temperature.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
This is not the assumption that is required in the argument. The argument already agrees about the increased global temperatures.
.
(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
Invalid. This is a prediction rather than an assumption needed for the argument to hold true.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
Directly weakens the argument.

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A

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.

Negating it breaks the argument.
The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch are not the same as those causing current weather patterns.

If conditions are not the same, this arguments falls apart.

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Use negation technique.
(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must NOT BE be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
if it is not the same, how can we conclude Pilocone epoch is the same as current weather
Keep it.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, DID significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
if these factor influence the current weather, our argument doesn't FALL APART.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would be credible.
The assumption needs to connect the observed pattern in the Pliocene Epoch to current global temperatures and weather patterns, not just underline the need for evidence

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
whether it contunue to rise, doesn't relate to the Epoch

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
if we negate it, it actually strengthen our argument.
Thus correct one is A.

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The argument in the passage is trying to establish a causal link between increased global temperatures (due to climate change) and a specific weather pattern (prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls). To do so, it draws an analogy with similar weather patterns observed during the Pliocene Epoch, a period known for higher global temperatures.
The claim / conclusion of the passage is : The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
We could have the same result without having the same initial conditions. Nothing in the passage obliges to consider that similar conditions must be held to have the same results,

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
The mixtures of natural parameters that could lead to a result is not known. We still could have that current of ocean with specific matters of temperature could lead to the same result .

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
This answer choice is correct, the only thing that makes us draw the conclusion of climate change is a comparable pattern of rising temperature between the current state and the Pliocene Epoch. If we have no evidence of increased global temperatures, which is the main thing we relied on then the comparison with Pliocene Epoch will not still valid.
So if not, the conclusion will fall

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
Nothing obliges to consider a linear correlation between temperature and severity of weather conditions,

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
This is not a mandatory information to consider for our conclusion to be held. We still could have different mechanisms and reach the same results

Correct answer is C

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(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.

This option directly supports the argument by linking past and present weather patterns to similar causes. If the conditions (higher global temperatures) are the same, the argument that current patterns are due to climate change is strengthened.
(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.

While this could be true, it is not the central assumption needed to link current patterns to climate change. The argument focuses on temperature as the primary cause.
(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.

This statement might be true, but it is not the key assumption linking the Pliocene Epoch patterns to current patterns.
(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.

This prediction about future patterns is not necessary for the argument that current patterns are due to climate change.
(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.

This statement contradicts the argument, as it suggests a difference rather than a similarity between past and present causes.

Ans A

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(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns. Already mentioned

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch. Irrelevent

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible. irrelevent

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase. This is the assumption.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change. Irrelevent

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(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
This assumption is necessary for the argument because it establishes that the causal mechanism (increased global temperatures leading to specific weather patterns) observed during the Pliocene Epoch is applicable to the current climate change scenario.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
This option introduces an alternative factor affecting weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch, but it doesn't directly support the assumption that links past weather patterns to current climate change patterns due to global temperatures.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
This option discusses the credibility of the claim based on evidence of increased global temperatures but doesn't directly relate to the assumption about the similarity of weather patterns across epochs.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will undoubtedly increase.
This option discusses future implications of rising temperatures but doesn't directly relate to the assumption about the historical recurrence of weather patterns.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
This contradicts the assumption that past weather patterns (caused by higher global temperatures) are relevant to understanding current climate change patterns.

IMO A.

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After resting at the weekend, we're back to business. I feel the luck is going to shift to our Green team as we get closer to the end of the Champions. Let's get started with our explanation for this topic:

Identify the Question: We are dealing with an Assumption question. We should focus on the premises and the conclusion of the argument.

Deconstruct the Argument: Climatologists claim: The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change. - Background
This pattern results from increased global temperatures, which enhance the rate of water evaporation and lead to more stored moisture in the atmosphere. - More Background
When the moisture is released, it results in heavy rains following drought periods. - Background
The discovery that similar weather patterns occurred during the Pliocene Epoch, when the earth experienced higher global temperatures - Premise
Supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change. - Conclusion

State the Goal: Alright, Assumption question. We are looking for a gap that must be true and usually not stated. This assumption (gap) holds the argument. It is necessary. What necessary gaps do we see here? There is a cause-and-effect relation here, so it must be the relations, not the opposite way. High temp -> Climate Change -> Weather Patterns. It cannot be the other way around. - ASSUMPTION

Elimination:
A) No tie - The conclusion is talking about: Increasing temperatures -> Climate Change -> Weather Pattern. There is a relation here that we must understand in order to solve this problem. The reason for the increasing temperatures is not our concern:/. Our concern is that this relation will hold. - Eliminate.

B) No tie - Such as A, they are similar with their trap. The reason for the increasing temperatures is not our concern:/. Our concern is that this relation will hold. - Eliminate.

C) Correct - If we negate this sentence, we can see that the argument falls apart. If without evidence of increasing temperatures, the Conclusion (Climate Change -> Weather patterns) WOULD BE credible, so how is the climate change happening? From what source? The whole argument is built on the relations to the increasing temperatures.

D) No tie - We cannot infer that. It is kind of a real-world distraction of inference questions. This is an overshoot answer choice.

E) Opposite - The argument says exactly the opposite.

THE END

I hope you liked the explanation. I have tried my best here. Let me know if you have any questions about this question or my explanation.

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Bunuel

Climatologists claim: The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change. This pattern results from increased global temperatures, which enhance the rate of water evaporation and lead to more stored moisture in the atmosphere. When the moisture is released, it results in heavy rains following drought periods. The discovery that similar weather patterns occurred during the Pliocene Epoch, when the earth experienced higher global temperatures, supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change.

The argument in the passage relies on which of the following assumptions?

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

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Conclusion: The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change
why?
Pattern results from increased global temp, that increases water evaporation and more stored moisture in atmosphere. When moisture is released, heavy rain follow drought period
Similar weather pattern occurred during Pliocene Epoch supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change.

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
-- if the conditions that caused similar weather patten during Epoch are not the same as those causing current weather patten can we say that it is a clear indicator of climate change.it will raise doubt on conclusion.
If they are the same, it supports the conclusion. Hence this looks good

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
--lets say other factors besides global temperator did influence weather pattern , however rainfollow followed drought and it is expected now. so sill recent pattern is clear indicator of climate change. hence it does nothing to conclusion and cant be an assumption

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
-- It does not need to be necessarily true that we need evidence for the claim to happen

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
-- this is hypothetical argument and does not even touch the conclusion

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
-- this talks about mechanism of climate change being different but does this touch conclusion which says pattern is indicator of climate change.

A is the answer

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15 Jul 2024, 13:55

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The argument in the passage relies on which of the following assumptions?

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
INCORRECT conditions are irrelevant because what the claim main concern is the high temperatures that causes the similar conditions of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
INCORRECT
in both epochs, high temperatures are responsible for prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls rather than any other environmental factor but it doesn't help to assert that is due to climate change.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
CORRECT
It helps to support the claim, because Pliocene Epoch climate was different to Actual Epoch, so if in current epoch we are having similar weather patterns than Pliocene means that there must have been a climate change.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
INCORRECT
It is irrelevant as we are not trying to prove the severity of rains and drough,t but we are looking for a statement to support climate change considering another epoch similarities.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
INCORRECT
It is irrelevant as we are no trying to prove that mechanism of draught followed by raining causes are similar to Pliocene , but to demonstrate that this weather patterns are due to a climate change.

ANS LETTER C

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Option A?
Not sure tbh

We are comparing two different time periods, so the assumption has to be that all is the same.. right
thus option A

I am confused with option B

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch. - I negated this as- did significantly influence the weather patterns, it is not relevant to our conclusion that in present this change is due to weather change so... I eliminated it

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Climatologists claim:
Conclusion:
The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change.
Premise:
This pattern results from increased global temperatures, which enhance the rate of water evaporation and lead to more stored moisture in the atmosphere. When the moisture is released, it results in heavy rains following drought periods. The discovery that similar weather patterns occurred during the Pliocene Epoch, when the earth experienced higher global temperatures, supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change.

The argument in the passage relies on which of the following assumptions?

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.What conditions , thr option is very broad its not specific.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.Recent pattern have resemblance of the pattern caused due increased global temeperature, .Similar weather pattern occured during P epoch with increase in global temperature.But if there is any other cause due to which the pattern occured in the P epoch then we cant say that this pattern is caused by increased globalm temperature and climate change.Correct.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.--not relevant.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.argument is comparing present time with a specific time period and this option is a claim about frequency of weather pattern ---unrelated topic.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.This will weaken the argument, and also we are not interested in past but a specific time in the past
Ans B

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Bunuel

Climatologists claim: The recent pattern of prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls is a clear indicator of climate change. This pattern results from increased global temperatures, which enhance the rate of water evaporation and lead to more stored moisture in the atmosphere. When the moisture is released, it results in heavy rains following drought periods. The discovery that similar weather patterns occurred during the Pliocene Epoch, when the earth experienced higher global temperatures, supports the claim that our current weather patterns are due to climate change.

The argument in the passage relies on which of the following assumptions?

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

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Let's take a look at each of the options here to find out which assumption the passages relies on:

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.

-> This is a very important assumption because the passage uses similar weather patterns in the Pliocene Epoch as evidence to claim that the current weather patterns are due to climate change. This is the correct answer.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.

-> This talks about other factors during the Pliocene Epoch but is not an assumption needed for the similarity of conditions in the past vs the present.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.

-> This is not an assumption that we need for the passage, it's more of a general statement.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.

-> This is about future predictions which are not relevant in this case - we are looking for something about the present being similar to the past.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.

-> This contradicts the argument so we can ignore this option.

The correct answer imo is A.

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(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns. > Wrong. Conditions doesn't need to be the same [MUST in the sentence make it wrong], the argument may still valid.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch. > Keep. If other factors don't have significant impact, it is reasonable to focus on temperature.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible. > Wrong as the sentence "This pattern results from increased global temperatures" is a fact ?

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase. > Wrong. This is not assumption but it is inference.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change. > Wrong. This weaken the statement.

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i think the answer is A ,but i'm not sure

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The conclusion is that the discoveries from the Pliocene Epoch support the claim that the reason for the droughts and heavy rain is climate change, because in the Pliocene Epoch it happened the same.

Prediction: no other factor affected during the Pliocene Epoch.

A --> trap answer, but it is too extreme and the lenguage is not correct
B --> matches the prediction perfectly
C --> irrelevant
D --> irrelevant
E --> irrelevant

Answer is B

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Argument: Increased global temperatures (produced by climate change) produce weather patterns such as prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfalls as in Pliocene Epoch.

(A) The conditions that caused similar weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch must be the same as those causing current weather patterns.
INCORRECT. The argument does not rely on this assumption because not all the conditions must the same. The main cause is higher global temperatures and the other conditions don't matter.

(B) Other factors besides global temperatures, such as ocean currents or volcanic activity, did not significantly influence weather patterns during the Pliocene Epoch.
CORRECT. Climatologists deduce that some causes (increased global temperatures) produce some supposed effects (weather patterns). During the Pliocene Epoch the same causes and supposed effects occur. But what if other causes produce these effects?. Climatologists assume that there are no other relevant causes.

(C) Without evidence of increased global temperatures, the claim that current weather patterns are due to climate change would not be credible.
INCORRECT. The argument compares compares a situation that occurred in the past with a current situation. Even with evidence of increased global temperatures, that claim might not be credible.

(D) If global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of these weather patterns will certainly increase.
INCORRECT. Argument talks about what is happening now, not in the future.

(E) The mechanisms that caused climate change in the past are fundamentally different from those causing current climate change.
INCORRECT. The argument is that these mechanisms are similar, not different.

IMO B

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