Nature constantly adjusts the atmospheric carbon level. An increase in

Question

Nature constantly adjusts the atmospheric carbon level. An increase in the level causes the atmosphere to hold more heat, which causes more water to evaporate from the oceans, which causes increased rain. Rain washes some carbon from the air into the oceans, where it eventually becomes part of the seabed. A decrease in atmospheric carbon causes the atmosphere to hold less heat, which causes decreased evaporation from the oceans, which causes less rain, and thus less carbon is washed into the oceans. Yet some environmentalists worry that burning fossil fuels may raise atmospheric carbon to a dangerous level. It is true that a sustained increase would threaten human life. But the environmentalists should relax—nature will continually adjust the carbon level.

Each of the following can be inferred from the information in the passage EXCEPT:

(A) A decrease in the level of atmospheric heat causes a decrease in the amount of carbon that rain washes into the oceans from the air.

(B) An increase in the level of carbon in the atmosphere causes increased evaporation of ocean water.

(C) An increase in the level of atmospheric heat causes increased rainfall.

(D) A decrease in the level of carbon in the atmosphere causes decreased evaporation of ocean water.

(E) A decrease in the level of atmospheric heat causes a decrease in the level of carbon in the atmosphere.

Bunuel · Answer

Similar question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/nature-const ... fl=similar

Eisha30 · Answer

I would go with E. Core chain ↑ Carbon → ↑ Heat → ↑ Evaporation → ↑ Rain → ↓ Carbon (washed into oceans) ↓ Carbon → ↓ Heat → ↓ Evaporation → ↓ Rain → ↑ Carbon stays in air (less removed)

So nature creates a balancing loop, not a one-way cause E A decrease in atmospheric heat causes a decrease in

From the passage

* ↓ Heat → ↓ Evaporation → ↓ Rain → LESS carbon removed from air

WiziusCareers1 · Answer

The passage describes a negative feedback loop for carbon regulation:
When carbon increases: ↑ Carbon → ↑ Heat → ↑ Evaporation → ↑ Rain → ↑ Carbon washed into oceans → ↓ Carbon
When carbon decreases: ↓ Carbon → ↓ Heat → ↓ Evaporation → ↓ Rain → ↓ Carbon washed into oceans → ↑ Carbon

Evaluating The Answer Choices 
(A) A decrease in atmospheric heat causes less carbon to be washed into the oceans.
The passage states: decreased heat → decreased evaporation → decreased rain → less carbon washed into oceans. This can be inferred.

(B) An increase in atmospheric carbon causes increased evaporation.
The passage states: increased carbon → increased heat → increased evaporation. This can be inferred (carbon increase causes heat increase, which causes evaporation increase).

(C) An increase in atmospheric heat causes increased rainfall.
The passage states: increased heat → increased evaporation → increased rain. This can be inferred.

(D) A decrease in atmospheric carbon causes decreased evaporation.
The passage states: decreased carbon → decreased heat → decreased evaporation. This can be inferred.

(E) A decrease in atmospheric heat causes a decrease in atmospheric carbon.
Here's the problem: The passage establishes that carbon drives heat, not the reverse.
The causal chain runs: Carbon → Heat → Evaporation → Rain → Carbon removed
If heat decreases independently, the passage doesn't tell us what happens to carbon levels
In fact, the described mechanism suggests that less heat would mean less rain, which would mean less carbon washed away, potentially leading to carbon increasing (not decreasing)
The passage never establishes heat as a cause of carbon levels—only as an effect. Choice (E) reverses the causal direction.
Answer: (E)
This is the exception because it cannot be inferred from the passage. The passage describes carbon affecting heat, not heat independently affecting carbon levels.

Nature constantly adjusts the atmospheric carbon level. An increase in

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Nature constantly adjusts the atmospheric carbon level. An increase in

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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