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83% (02:08) correct
17%
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Microscopic plants called algae grow inside the top layer of sea ice in the Antarctic if enough sunlight reaches that layer of ice and enough seawater, which contains nutrients, reaches that layer after splashing onto the surface. Even though moderate snow cover reduces the sunlight that filters into the top layer, sea ice with moderate snow cover typically contains even more algae in the top layer than does sea ice with less snow cover.
Which of the following , if true most helps to explain the apparent discrepancy?
(A) As the weight of accumulated snow forces ice lower in the water, more seawater splashes onto the surface and seeps through the snow.
(B) Seawater in the Antarctic often contains higher concentrations of nutrients than does seawater in more temperate regions.
(C) As the air temperature around sea ice decreases during the winter, the likelihood decreases that snow will fall and thus add to any existing snow cover.
(D) The nutrients on which algae rely are common in seawater throughout the Antarctic.
(E) More sunlight filters through a layer of ice than through an equally thick layer of snow.
Which of the following , if true most helps to explain the apparent discrepancy?
(A) As the weight of accumulated snow forces ice lower in the water, more seawater splashes onto the surface and seeps through the snow.
(B) Seawater in the Antarctic often contains higher concentrations of nutrients than does seawater in more temperate regions.
(C) As the air temperature around sea ice decreases during the winter, the likelihood decreases that snow will fall and thus add to any existing snow cover.
(D) The nutrients on which algae rely are common in seawater throughout the Antarctic.
(E) More sunlight filters through a layer of ice than through an equally thick layer of snow.
The growth of algae in the uppermost layer of Antarctic sea ice depends on accessibility to sunlight and nutrient-bearing seawater that percolates downward from the surface. The amount of sunlight penetrating the ice is limited by snow cover—yet the top layer of sea ice under moderate snow cover contains more algae than sea ice under less snow cover. Why does this occur?
According to the last choice, the more snow cover, the lower the ice sinks in the water—which allows more seawater to percolate down through the ice (this presumably can also allow sunlight to penetrate at certain times). This seems a reasonable explanation, and better than the other choices given.
The first choice compares the nutritional value of Antarctic seawater with that of other seawater, but this is irrelevant to explaining the puzzle presented.
The second choice describes a process by which snow accumulation might slow down or stop—but does not help us understand how algae under moderate snow cover have acquired both enough nutrition and enough sunlight.
Clearly neither the third nor the fourth choice is any better in this respect than the second choice.
According to the last choice, the more snow cover, the lower the ice sinks in the water—which allows more seawater to percolate down through the ice (this presumably can also allow sunlight to penetrate at certain times). This seems a reasonable explanation, and better than the other choices given.
The first choice compares the nutritional value of Antarctic seawater with that of other seawater, but this is irrelevant to explaining the puzzle presented.
The second choice describes a process by which snow accumulation might slow down or stop—but does not help us understand how algae under moderate snow cover have acquired both enough nutrition and enough sunlight.
Clearly neither the third nor the fourth choice is any better in this respect than the second choice.
11 Apr 2019, 21:40
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sayan640
Hi VeritasKarishma orGMATNinja
Can you please tell as to which one is correct A or E ?
Also some explanations for all the options will be helpful...
Can you please throw some light ?
Can you please tell as to which one is correct A or E ?
Also some explanations for all the options will be helpful...
Can you please throw some light ?
Th answer is (A) only. (E) is irrelevant.
Algae grow inside the top layer of sea ice if enough sunlight reaches and enough seawater reaches that layer after splashing onto the surface (presumably, the seat water seeps into the ice after splashing on the surface).
Moderate snow cover (on top of ice) reduces the sunlight that filters into the top ice layer
Sea ice with moderate snow cover typically contains even more algae in the top layer than does sea ice with less snow cover.
This is a paradox - Ice layer needs sunlight and sea water to grow algae. Moderate snow on top of ice layer reduces sunlight reaching it. But ice with moderate snow on top of it actually grows more algae (than ice with less snow cover). Why?
(A) As the weight of accumulated snow forces ice lower in the water, more seawater splashes onto the surface and seeps through the snow.
Ice with moderate snow on top of it gets more sea water and hence more nutrients. So it grows more algae. Makes sense. Apparently, the impact of more nutrients outweighs the impact of less sunlight.
(B) Seawater in the Antarctic often contains higher concentrations of nutrients than does seawater in more temperate regions.
Irrelevant. Comparison is not with any other region. It is between ice with moderate snow cover and ice with less snow cover.
(C) As the air temperature around sea ice decreases during the winter, the likelihood decreases that snow will fall and thus add to any existing snow cover.
Irrelevant.
(D) The nutrients on which algae rely are common in seawater throughout the Antarctic.
Not comparing different areas of Antarctic.
(E) More sunlight filters through a layer of ice than through an equally thick layer of snow.
The comparison is between a moderate layer of snow and a thinner layer of snow. It is not between the layer of ice and layer of snow.
In both cases, algae grow only in top layer of ice. If the ice layer has a thicker coat of snow on top of it, it gets less sunlight. If it has a thinner layer of snow on it, it gets more sunlight. Thinner layer of snow gets more sunlight than thicker layer of snow. We have to compare these two cases only. Ice vs snow is not relevant to our discussion at all.
Answer (A)
General Discussion
10 Jun 2008, 22:29
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alimad
Microscopic plants called algea grow inside the top layer of sea ice in the Antartic if enough sunlight reaches that layer of ice and enough seawater, which contains nutrients, reaches that layer after splashing onto the surface. Even though moderate snow cover reduces the sunlight that filters into the top layer, sea ice with moderate snow cover typically contains even more algea in the top layer than does sea ice with less snow cover.
Which of the following , if true most helps to explain the apparent discrepancy?
As the weight of accumulated snow forces ice lower in the water, more seawater splashes onto the surface and seeps through the snow.
Seawater in the Antartic often contains higher concentrations of nutrients than does seawater in more temperate regions,
As the air temperature around sea ice decreases during the winter, the likelihood decreases that snow will fall and thus add to any existing snow cover.
The nutrients on which algae rely are common in seawater throughout the Antartic
More sunlight filters through a layer of ice than through an equally thick layer of snow.
Which of the following , if true most helps to explain the apparent discrepancy?
As the weight of accumulated snow forces ice lower in the water, more seawater splashes onto the surface and seeps through the snow.
Seawater in the Antartic often contains higher concentrations of nutrients than does seawater in more temperate regions,
As the air temperature around sea ice decreases during the winter, the likelihood decreases that snow will fall and thus add to any existing snow cover.
The nutrients on which algae rely are common in seawater throughout the Antartic
More sunlight filters through a layer of ice than through an equally thick layer of snow.
I think A is the only logical answer here, as only this option opens up the logical possibility of higher algae growth even under a high snow cover
