Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 16:27 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 16:27
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
555-605 Level|   Science|   Short Passage|                  
User avatar
YangYichen
Joined: 05 Oct 2016
Last visit: 07 Jan 2018
Posts: 55
Own Kudos:
218
 [80]
Given Kudos: 11
Location: China
Concentration: Healthcare, Entrepreneurship
WE:Sales (Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals)
Posts: 55
Kudos: 218
 [80]
12
Kudos
Add Kudos
64
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
77,001
 [18]
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 77,001
 [18]
14
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
oasis90
Joined: 20 Jan 2016
Last visit: 13 Jun 2021
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
73
 [5]
Given Kudos: 68
Location: Canada
Schools: HBS '18
WE:Consulting (Other)
Schools: HBS '18
Posts: 52
Kudos: 73
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
IIMC
Joined: 27 Dec 2015
Last visit: 21 Dec 2020
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
7
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,190
Posts: 19
Kudos: 7
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For Q5: what i think option B is clearly stated in the passage that "such changes gives rise to favorable conditions for development of species rather than their extinction"......option E can be inferred too. But I feel B is better than E ??

Please suggest.
avatar
gayatriv21
Joined: 26 Dec 2014
Last visit: 27 Sep 2017
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 3
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I selected answer of 1st and 2nd question as B. Could you please help me understand the answers. Also,how to deal with such passages in real exam. Please provide with some tips for RC.
avatar
streetking
Joined: 21 Mar 2017
Last visit: 12 Apr 2018
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
14
 [2]
Given Kudos: 10
Location: Zimbabwe
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 680 Q45 V38
GMAT 2: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3.3
WE:Accounting (Accounting)
Products:
GMAT 2: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 31
Kudos: 14
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IIMC
For Q5: what i think option B is clearly stated in the passage that "such changes gives rise to favorable conditions for development of species rather than their extinction"......option E can be inferred too. But I feel B is better than E ??

Please suggest.

The geological changes did not bring up the new species, the radiation did.

So for Q5, only E can be inferred :-)
avatar
GmatDM2016
Joined: 27 May 2014
Last visit: 10 Sep 2019
Posts: 48
Own Kudos:
25
 [1]
Given Kudos: 63
Status:Never Say Never
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Technology
GMAT 1: 640 Q46 V32
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V33
GPA: 3.89
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V33
Posts: 48
Kudos: 25
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gayatriv21

for first question, I too initially jumped to B in a haste just focusing on a first part of the choice "describing an evolutionary phenomenon" -
but author is not speculating about its cause - author is clearly mentioning the causes.
Hence C is the correct choice
Q4: The passage is primarily concerned with
A. evaluating the evidence of a major geologic period and determining its duration - not evidence of major geological period, focus is evidence of marine life forms - "eventually evolve into entirely new species) in the history of marine invertebrates"
B. describing an evolutionary phenomenon and speculating about its cause
C. explaining the mechanisms through which marine life-forms evolved during a particular period
CORRECT - first line "evidence of tropical marine life"
D. analyzing the impact on later life-forms of an important evolutionary development -> author is not analyzing impact on later life forms but is discussing about the most significant radiations period
E. contrasting a period of evolutionary change with other such periods -> no other periods discussed and contrasted

Second question is explained above by streetking why E is better than B, rest all options are iffy
User avatar
kkrrsshh
Joined: 27 Jun 2015
Last visit: 26 Jul 2020
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 77
Location: India
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 45
Kudos: 14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
YangYichen
The dry mountain ranges of the western United States contain rocks dating back 440 to 510 million years, to the Ordovician period, and teeming with evidence of tropical marine life. This rock record provides clues about one of the most significant radiations (periods when existing life-forms gave rise to variations that would eventually evolve into entirely new species) in the history of marine invertebrates. During this radiation the number of marine biological families increased greatly, and these families included species that would dominate the marine ecosystems of the area for the next 215 million years. Although the radiation spanned tens of millions of years, major changes in many species occurred during a geologically short time span within the radiation and, furthermore, appear to have occurred worldwide, suggesting that external events were major factors in the radiation. And , in fact, there is evidence of major ecological and geological changes during this period: the sea level dropped drastically and mountain ranges were formed, in this instance, rather than leading to large-scale extinctions, these kinds of environmental changes may have resulted in an enriched pattem of habitats and nutrients, which in turn gave rise to the Ordovician radiation. However, the actual relationship between these environmental factors and the diversification of life forms is not yet fully understood
Q4: The passage is primarily concerned with

A. evaluating the evidence of a major geologic period and determining its duration
B. describing an evolutionary phenomenon and speculating about its cause
C. explaining the mechanisms through which marine life-forms evolved during a particular period
D. analyzing the impact on later life-forms of an important evolutionary development
E. contrasting a period of evolutionary change with other such periods

Q5. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the geologic changes that occurred during Ordovician period?

A. They were more drastic than those associated with other radiations
B. They may have created conditions favorable to the evolution of many new life-forms
C. They may have caused the extinction of many of the marine species living in shallow waters
D. They may have been a factor in the development of new species adapted to living both on land and in water
E. They hastened the formation of the extensive dry regions found in the western united states

Q6. Which of the following best describes the function of last sentence of the passage ?

A. it points out that the events described in the passage may be atypical
B. it alludes to the fact that there is disagreement in the scientific community over the importance of the Ordovician radiation
C. it concludes that the evidence presented in the passage is insufficient to support the proposed hypothesis because it comes from a limited geographic area
D. it warns the reader against seeing a connection between the biological and geolgic changes described in the passage
E. it alerts the reader that current knowledge cannot completely explain the relationship suggested by the evidence presented in the passage


can some one help exlain why Q5 is E not B?

Can you please provide the OEs?
User avatar
devanshu92
Joined: 24 Jul 2017
Last visit: 04 Feb 2018
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 38
Location: India
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 27
Kudos: 43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi experts,
Can you please explain answers to Q1 and Q2.

Thanks
User avatar
goforgmat
Joined: 09 Feb 2015
Last visit: 02 Nov 2019
Posts: 246
Own Kudos:
107
 [2]
Given Kudos: 232
Location: India
Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship, General Management
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V34
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V39
GPA: 2.8
Products:
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V39
Posts: 246
Kudos: 107
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Requesting experts to look into this passage.
I don't agree with the OAs for Q1 and Q2.

Q1. the passage is clearly trying to speculate what could be the causes for the evolution of many life forms.
B. describing an evolutionary phenomenon and speculating about its cause . this is inline with what the passage says.
c is definitive . No where in the passage the passage we see any mechanism being explained but merely speculation is going on .
The last sentences of the passage also says the same
"these kinds of environmental changes may have resulted in an enriched pattem of habitats and nutrients, which in turn gave rise to the Ordovician radiation. However, the actual relationship between these environmental factors and the diversification of life forms is not yet fully understood"

As for Q2
OA given is E but the first sentence merely suggests it contains rocks from that period . We have information that suggest mountain ranges were formed because of geological changes but nothing about dry mountain ranges.
B on the other hand can be inferred from "and , in fact, there is evidence of major ecological and geological changes during this period: the sea level dropped drastically and mountain ranges were formed, in this instance, rather than leading to large-scale extinctions, these kinds of environmental changes may have resulted in an enriched pattern of habitats and nutrients"
Also "may have resulted in an enriched pattern of habitats and nutrients" this suggests that the mountains may not have been dry hence IMO E is not right .
hence i feel B is better.

Please let me know if my analyses is right .
avatar
Shivikaa04
Joined: 13 Aug 2018
Last visit: 05 Feb 2019
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 38
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
GPA: 3.3
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Posts: 2
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Please explain why B is wrong in Q1? I can not find the mechanism in the paragraph ?

Thanks.
avatar
Dpzskr
Joined: 08 Mar 2017
Last visit: 02 Aug 2019
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
2
 [2]
Given Kudos: 156
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Marketing
Schools: IIMA PGPX"20
GMAT 1: 200 Q1 V1
GPA: 4
Schools: IIMA PGPX"20
GMAT 1: 200 Q1 V1
Posts: 2
Kudos: 2
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Shivikaa04
Please explain why B is wrong in Q1? I can not find the mechanism in the paragraph ?

Thanks.

The correct answer is B. The OA is marked wrong here. Confirmed from verbal review 2019 book.

Regards
Dpz
User avatar
Nikhil
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 22 May 2017
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 13,201
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3,295
Affiliations: GMATClub
GPA: 3.4
Products:
Posts: 13,201
Kudos: 9,839
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dpzskr

The correct answer is B. The OA is marked wrong here. Confirmed from verbal review 2019 book.

Regards
Dpz

Thank you. I have corrected the OA. In cases like these, please tag a moderator.
avatar
P@PU
Joined: 07 Aug 2017
Last visit: 22 Mar 2021
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 62
Posts: 12
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kindly help to understand why Option C is not correct for Q1. The passage speaks about marine species which is specified in option C against option B,
avatar
Gagoosh
Joined: 23 Nov 2017
Last visit: 02 Oct 2019
Posts: 104
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 132
Location: Singapore
Concentration: Strategy, Other
Posts: 104
Kudos: 173
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
P@PU
Kindly help to understand why Option C is not correct for Q1. The passage speaks about marine species which is specified in option C against option B,

it is wrong because the passage does not talk about any mechanism of evolution.
User avatar
arvind910619
Joined: 20 Dec 2015
Last visit: 18 Oct 2024
Posts: 845
Own Kudos:
607
 [3]
Given Kudos: 755
Status:Learning
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
GPA: 3.4
WE:Engineering (Manufacturing)
Products:
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
Posts: 845
Kudos: 607
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
P@PU
Kindly help to understand why Option C is not correct for Q1. The passage speaks about marine species which is specified in option C against option B,

My friend,

Question 1 is "The passage is primarily concerned with". The meaning of the question stem is that you have to find the answer for which the passage was written.
So in question such as this general idea is the most important aspect. You have to read the whole passage and see what reason is it written for. So with this information in mind let us compare B and C

(B) describing an evolutionary phenomenon and speculating about its cause.
This choice is our answer it tells us about the phenomenon and its cause. Radiation and various geological activities make are discussed deeply.

(C) explaining the mechanisms through which marine life-forms evolved during a particular period.
Marine life is used as an example to the phenomenon of evolution during Ordovician period. So this can not be the aim of the passage.
User avatar
Salsanousi
Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Last visit: 29 Dec 2020
Posts: 393
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 117
Location: Kuwait
GPA: 3.2
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Posts: 393
Kudos: 351
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
workout please correct the spoiler of the first question to be B rather than C.
Attachments

Screen Shot 2018-10-20 at 1.36.08 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-10-20 at 1.36.08 AM.png [ 9.33 KiB | Viewed 55769 times ]

Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
5:25
3/3
I think its a good 600-700 passage.!!
User avatar
T1101
Joined: 07 Aug 2018
Last visit: 18 Nov 2021
Posts: 85
Own Kudos:
345
 [1]
Given Kudos: 247
Location: United States (MA)
GMAT 1: 560 Q39 V28
GMAT 2: 670 Q48 V34
GMAT 2: 670 Q48 V34
Posts: 85
Kudos: 345
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Took me 4min 42sec. 3/3 correct.

Is this really a 700+ question? Seems more like 600-650 one...
avatar
Rocket7
Joined: 24 Sep 2011
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 47
Products:
Posts: 82
Kudos: 87
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello

Can anyone provide reasoning on why option D is wrong in Q3? Appreciate it.
 1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
17304 posts
189 posts