The Andean cordillera is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, w

Question

The Andean  cordillera  is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, which include high intermontane plateaus, basins, and valleys. The Northern Andes contains several broad ecosystems falling into four altitudinal belts. Its northern subregion is distinguished from the rest of the region by higher relative humidity and greater climatic symmetry between the eastern and western flanks of the range. The Central Andes are characterized by a succession of agricultural zones with varied climatic conditions along the mountains’ flanks and by large, high-altitude plateaus, variously called  puna  or  altiplano , which are not present in the Northern Andes. The soil fertility of the northern altiplano is generally good. The western Central Andean ranges are relatively arid with desert-like soils, whereas the eastern ranges are more humid and have more diverse soils. The eastern slopes of the Central Andes in many ways are similar to the wet forests of the Northern Andes. Unlike the Northern Andes, however, these slopes have a dry season.

Extreme topography and climate make regional weather projections in the Andean  cordillera  difficult. For example, while air temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude, variability of mountain topography can produce much lower than expected air temperatures. Vegetation can also be unpredictable, although certain general patterns are discernible. At the regional or macroscale level, vegetation patterns in the Northern and Central Andes tend to reflect climatic zones determined by latitude and altitude. At the local or mesoscale level, however, this correspondence becomes less precise, as local variations in soil type, slope, drainage, climate, and human intervention come into play.    1  
 1. Based on the passage information, which of the following characterizes the northern part of the Central Andes’ high-altitude plateaus?

(A) high relative humidity
(B) fertile soil
(C) a succession of agricultural zones
(D) extremes in air temperature
(E) an arid climate

2  
 2. Based only upon the information in the passage, which of the following is a characteristic of the Central Andean  cordillera  that clearly distinguishes it from the Northern Andean  cordillera ?

(A) an arid climate
(B) a sparse human population
(C) wet forests
(D) a humid climate
(E) a dry season

3  
 3. Which of the following statements about vegetation patterns in the Andean  cordillera  is most strongly supported by the passage?

(A) Local vegetation patterns are determined by the same factors as regional vegetation patterns.
(B) Vegetation patterns vary more widely at the macroscale level than at the mesoscale level.
(C) Vegetation patterns are affected by more factors at the mesoscale level than at the local level.
(D) Some factors affecting vegetation patterns have only a local impact, whereas others have a broader impact.
(E) Human intervention has a greater effect than either altitude or latitude upon vegetation patterns.

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Anshuman0902 · Answer

hi! please explain question number 2 and why D is wrong

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. Based only upon the information in the passage, which of the following is a characteristic of the Central Andean cordillera that clearly distinguishes it from the Northern Andean cordillera?

Explanation

The passage provides explicitly that, unlike the Northern Andes, the eastern slopes of the Central Andes have a dry season ( Last three lines of first paragraph:   The eastern slopes of the Central Andes in many ways are similar to the wet forests of the Northern Andes. Unlike the Northern Andes, however, these slopes have a dry season. ) While D talk about humid climate.

The correct answer is (E).

kntombat · Answer

Sajjad1994 , as and when possible, could you share the Official Explanation of question 3 please. 
Thank you.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. Which of the following statements about vegetation patterns in the Andean cordillera is most strongly supported by the passage?

Difficulty Level:   Hard

Explanation

This question focuses on the information in the  second paragraph.  The author first notes that vegetation patterns correspond generally with climate (as determined primarily by latitude and altitude). Accordingly, altitude and latitude affect vegetation patterns throughout the region. Then, in the final sentence the author points out that, in spite of the general correspondence between climate and vegetation, local patterns may not correspond so precisely with climate, due to a number of local factors.  Choice (D)  accurately reflects the information in the  second paragraph.

The correct answer is (D).

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. Based on the passage information, which of the following characterizes the northern part of the Central Andes’ high-altitude plateaus?

Difficulty Level:   Hard

Explanation

The high-altitude plateaus are called altiplano  (lines 10–11: high-altitude plateaus, variously called  puna or altiplano ) . The passage states explicitly that the soil fertility in the northern altiplano is generally good  (lines 12–13: The soil fertility of the northern  altiplano  is generally good.)

Answer: B

medha312 · Answer

Hi Sajjad1994, 
I have a confusion here.

The first para also mentions -  "Its northern subregion is distinguished from the rest of the region by higher relative humidity and greater climatic symmetry..." 
  -- from this line I inferred that humidity is a characteristic distinguishing the northern from the central Andean cordillera region. While the line --  The eastern slopes of the Central Andes in many ways are similar to the wet forests of the Northern Andes. Unlike the Northern Andes, however, these slopes have a dry season.  -- only talks about a characteristic that is part of ( eastern ) the central Andes and not the whole of it. Is that incorrect?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hi medha312

Read these lines from the passage:

The   Northern Andes   contains several broad ecosystems falling into four altitudinal belts. Its   northern subregion   is distinguished from the rest of the   region   by higher relative humidity and greater climatic symmetry between the eastern and western flanks of the range.

The word "region" above is referring back to the northern subregion and not the Central Andes. This comparison is between Northern Andes and its sub-region while question ask for the comparison of Northern Andes and Central Andes.

Thank you

The Andean cordillera is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, w

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The Andean cordillera is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, w

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

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