Last visit was: 21 May 2024, 19:08 It is currently 21 May 2024, 19:08
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
Unanswered
Active Topics
New posts
New comers' posts
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 93373
Own Kudos [?]: 625654 [7]
Given Kudos: 81918
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink] In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se   21 Feb 2022, 10:00
7
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

64% (02:01) correct 36% (02:20) wrong based on 277 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, seemingly disappeared overnight as an eruption rent the entire island apart, catapulting rock and debris into the atmosphere. For the next years, as ash circled the entire globe, the average world temperature dropped by several degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, an eruption of similar power in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere will likely cause the average temperature around the world to drop by several degrees.

Which of the following, if true, best challenges the main claim of the argument?


A. The eruption of the Indonesian island of Tambora was even larger than that of Krakatoa, yet the average world temperature did not drop as much as it did following the eruption of Krakatoa.

B. In 1883, the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon La Nina occurred, an event that is always followed by a drop of several degrees in the world’s average temperature.

C. Due to the effects of climate change, the average world temperature has been steadily increasing over the last few decades.

D. According to sophisticated computer analysis, the eruption of Mt. Toba between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago, one of the most powerful ever, may have hastened an ice age.

E. No volcanic eruption in the 20th century was close to the magnitude of the Krakatoa eruption, yet average world temperatures dropped between 1950 and 1960.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
P
kungfury42
Director
Director
Joined: 07 Jan 2022
Posts: 608
Own Kudos [?]: 446 [0]
Given Kudos: 725
Schools: NUS '25 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q51 V38
GPA: 4
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink] In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se   21 Feb 2022, 14:10
(A) Perfect! If another island eruption of a greater magnitude did not cause as much drop in the temperatures worldwide, it certainly challenges the main contention of the argument.

(B) La Nina could've played a role alongwith the eruption of Krakatoa in the temperature drop worldwide, but just the fact that La Nina happened doesn't undermine the main contention of the argument that a massive volcanic eruption can cause drop in temperatures.

(C) Irrelevant.

(D) If one of the most powerful eruptions hastened the ice age it strengthens the argument that massive volcanic eruptions can lead to drop in temperatures.

(E) We haven't said that the volcanic eruptions are the only way temperatures can drop.

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
B
NHUANH
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Aug 2013
Posts: 22
Own Kudos [?]: 22 [2]
Given Kudos: 223
Location: Finland
Concentration: Marketing, Finance
GMAT Date: 02-03-2015
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V37
GPA: 3.4
WE:Account Management (Computer Software)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink] In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se   21 Feb 2022, 20:18
2
Kudos
This is a common Cause- Effect scenario in CR. Let's put this question in a simple story:
"One event happened, and, as consequence, something happened. => Conclusion: If similar event happen, then similar sequence will occur"
To undermine this argument, we can look for following alternative answer:
1. Something else cause both events
2. The consequence is cause by different event
3. Both event and "consequence" are not actually related.
---------------------
A. This is a trap: the author plays with words and trick test takers with the phrase "did not drop as much as". Under time constraint, test takers may read that phrase as "it did not drop". And they think that "The consequence is cause by different event". But they are wrong because "did not drop as much as" means the cause and effect happened but in a lesser degree. So, the cause-and-effect still exists. It does not invalidate the argument.

B. this is the correct answer. This option implies that another event (La Nina) may be the cause of the decrease in temperature.

C,D, and E are just outright wrong.

Hope this helps :)
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 93373
Own Kudos [?]: 625654 [1]
Given Kudos: 81918
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
Re: In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink] In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se   05 Mar 2022, 15:30
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
Bunuel wrote:
In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, seemingly disappeared overnight as an eruption rent the entire island apart, catapulting rock and debris into the atmosphere. For the next years, as ash circled the entire globe, the average world temperature dropped by several degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, an eruption of similar power in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere will likely cause the average temperature around the world to drop by several degrees.

Which of the following, if true, best challenges the main claim of the argument?


A. The eruption of the Indonesian island of Tambora was even larger than that of Krakatoa, yet the average world temperature did not drop as much as it did following the eruption of Krakatoa.

B. In 1883, the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon La Nina occurred, an event that is always followed by a drop of several degrees in the world’s average temperature.

C. Due to the effects of climate change, the average world temperature has been steadily increasing over the last few decades.

D. According to sophisticated computer analysis, the eruption of Mt. Toba between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago, one of the most powerful ever, may have hastened an ice age.

E. No volcanic eruption in the 20th century was close to the magnitude of the Krakatoa eruption, yet average world temperatures dropped between 1950 and 1960.


Magoosh Official Explanation:



The argument assumes that one event caused another event. In this case, the volcano eruption, and the subsequent debris pushed into the atmosphere, led to a drop in global temps. The correct answer will provide another cause to the drop in global temperatures.

Only (B) does so. Note, (B) is not saying that the volcano did not cause any drop in temperature, but it attacks the part of the conclusion that states that a volcanic eruption of equal intensity will cause the same drop in temperature. If La Nina was responsible for compounding the drop in temperature, then a similar eruption, without the attendant La Nina, would not necessarily result in the same drop.

(A) is really tempting. The reason it is not the answer is it does not address the conclusion as directly as (B). Though Tambora was a larger eruption, the conclusion states, "in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere". We do not know if Tambora ejected more debris into the atmosphere than did Krakatoa.

(C) states that temperatures worldwide have been increasing. That does not mean that a massive eruption could not lead to a drop in world temperatures.

(D) is a general fact that does not relate to the argument.

(E) is wrong because the drop in temperatures is not related to any eruption. Thus, (E) is irrelevant.
User avatar
S
naveengmat15
Manager
Manager
Joined: 08 Aug 2023
Posts: 72
Own Kudos [?]: 13 [0]
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 4
WE:Architecture (Real Estate)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink] In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se   04 Sep 2023, 17:23
The argument assumes that one event caused another event. In this case, the volcano eruption, and the subsequent debris pushed into the atmosphere, led to a drop in global temps. The correct answer will provide another cause to the drop in global temperatures.

Only (B) does so. Note, (B) is not saying that the volcano did not cause any drop in temperature, but it attacks the part of the conclusion that states that a volcanic eruption of equal intensity will cause the same drop in temperature. If La Nina was responsible for compounding the drop in temperature, then a similar eruption, without the attendant La Nina, would not necessarily result in the same drop.

(A) is really tempting. The reason it is not the answer is it does not address the conclusion as directly as (B). Though Tambora was a larger eruption, the conclusion states, "in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere". We do not know if Tambora ejected more debris into the atmosphere than did Krakatoa.

(C) states that temperatures worldwide have been increasing. That does not mean that a massive eruption could not lead to a drop in world temperatures.

(D) is a general fact that does not relate to the argument.

(E) is wrong because the drop in temperatures is not related to any eruption. Thus, (E) is irrelevant.

Posted from my mobile device
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, se [#permalink]
04 Sep 2023, 17:23
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
6936 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
238 posts
mysterymanrog
CR Forum Moderator
832 posts