Researchers bet their bottom dollar on a combination of polar ice core

The passage descibes how the mystery of one of the greatest volcanic erruptions was solved and compares its magnitude with
other such erruptions.

1. The author is primarily concerned with:
A. enumerating how an unconventional means solved one of the volcanology’s most enduring mysteries- The author does mention
the unconventional means like reading the palm leaves etc. but that is not the primary concern.

B. explaining how researchers could finally trace the Samalas event- This is the correct choice, the author describes the
various events which ultimately led to the solution of the mystery.

C. describing one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions that took place in mid-13th century- The author mentions that
the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand in 2nd century AD is considered as the deadliset and Samalas is comparable to that.

D. presenting the nature of volcanic spew of the 1257 volcano eruption in comparison with that of the other major volcanic
event- The compariosn is just to give an idea of the magnitude and is not the primary concern of the passage.

E. showing through major volcanic events how deadly the eruption of the 1257 AD was-This comes close but is again not the
primary concern.

2. The author of the passage alludes to the discovery made in Greenland and Antarctica in order to
A. suggest that the researchers explored these sites to accumulate traces and study effects of the massive
1257 AD eruption- The author does not specifically mention this.

B. indicate that the sharp increase in the levels of sulfate in stratosphere must have been due to massive volcanic
eruption in 1257 AD- The author mentions it to highlight how it was a clue which helped in resolving the mystery and is the correct choice.

C. point massive eruptions can affect vast areas of land.- This is not te reason in the context it is mentioned.

D. compare the effects of 1257 AD eruption with that of eruption in these two locations- There is no comparison made but the
author is just mentioning the things which helped the scientists.

E. bring in the importance of these places in the resolution of the mystery of 1257 AD eruption-This is quiet close to the correct
choice but the context in which the author mentions it to suggest how the clues were used to solve the mystery and not
to stress on its importance.

3. Which of the following statements about “the most intense historic volcanic event” is supported by information in the passage?
A. The ejecta from this volcanic eruption led to pyroclastic deposits more than 100 feet thick that were found more than 15 miles away from the site of the volcano-
This is not mentioned for Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand but for Samalas eruption.
B. This event took place in 1883 and led to significant increase in sulfate in stratosphere- This was not the most intesnse.
C. The event is chronicled in Babad Lombak, a 13th century historical record in Old Javanese- This was not the most intesnse.
D. The event refers to Tambora event that took place in 1815 and is included in the history of massive volcanic eruptions- This was not the most intesnse.
E. This event took place in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand in 2nd century AD - The author specifically mentions this in
2nd paragraph.

1. Paragraph 1 : The author introduces a mystery regarding a volcanic eruption and concludes on one particular eruption ( Samalas volcano on Lombok Island in Indonesia.)
Paragraph 2 : Chronicles how Scientists reached the conclusion in paragraph1
Paragraph 3 : Additional support and inferences from the volcanic event.
Hence primary Purpose : to describe how scientists found the solution to volcanic mysteries. Therefore B
2. Excerpt from the passage : the largest spike in sulfate deposits in the last 7,000 years, which were revealed in the ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica.The spike indicated a massive eruption around 1257
This means the author included the findings in Greenland and Antarctica to substantiate the scientists inference that increased level of sulfate in stratosphere must have been due to massive volcanic eruption in 1257 AD.
Clear B
3. Excerpt from the passage : Researchers say the 1257 mystery spew is comparable in scope to a second-century AD eruption in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand, known as the most intense historic volcanic event
Straight E

Hi Bunuel - the source of this passage is e--GMAT
Please add
Also let me know if it is possible for me to add going forward- would be happy to do so myself.

_____________________
Added the tag. thank you!

Hi are these official answers (by EGMAT) or your own answers?

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