The effects of climate change are coming into sharper focus: because o

Question

﻿ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The effects of climate change are coming into sharper focus: because of increased global temperatures, sea levels are rising, plants are blooming earlier in the spring, and water supplies are declining. That the global climate may reach a dangerous turning point, threatening food supplies, has become a real possibility.

﻿ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The best way to reduce this danger is to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. But success requires that all major greenhouse-gas- emitting countries, with their divergent, often conflicting interests, cooperate for several decades in a sustained effort to develop and deploy new technology that produces much lower emissions. Incentives to drop out of this effort, thereby avoiding the high cost of emission controls, will be strong. A more feasible solution is for governments to promote an international cooperative study and the eventual implementation of geoengineering the deliberate manipulation of Earth's atmosphere to counteract the warming effect of greenhouse-gas emissions.

﻿ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This must be an international effort, because unilateral geoengineering could have detrimental consequences. The discovery of the cooling effects of volcanic emissions has suggested a means of geoengineering that is feasible for any reasonably technologically advanced nation and relatively inexpensive. For as little as a few billion dollars, a nation could emulate these volcanic effects by deliberately putting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere. Without proactive international cooperation, a country may conclude that global warming has become so harmful to its interests that it should unilaterally engage in geoengineering without considering the effects on other countries, effects that could be catastrophic.

﻿ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Thus, governments must support an international program of scientific research that would help on three fronts: (1) transform discussion about geoengineering into focused assessment of concrete risks; (2) secure funding and political cover for essential but controversial experiments that are conducted by the world's leading scientists and are evaluated in a fully transparent fashion; (3) craft norms for the testing and possible deployment of geoengineering technologies. Scientists could be influential in creating these norms, just as nuclear scientists framed options on nuclear testing and influenced pivotal government decisions during the Cold War.   1 
1. The passage indicates that, at the time the passage was written, discussion of geoengineering tended

A. to take for granted that international efforts will eventually successfully reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted

B. to be uninformed by current science

C. to disregard questions of what norms should govern the testing and possible deployment of geonengineering technologies

D. to be unduly influenced by prejudice against geoengineering

E. not to involve a focused assessment of the concrete risks of geoengineering

2 
2. Which of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

A. The discovery of the cooling effects of volcanic emissions has led to the threat of potentially catastrophic unilateral geoengineering on the part of a reasonably technologically advanced nation

B. To confront the threat of global warming and helo forestall potential risky unilateral action, governements should promote an international study of geoengineering.

C. The best way to reduce the danger of climate change is through geoengineering, but without further study its effects will not be well understood

D. A research program conducted by the world's leading scientists could effectively establish norms for the testing and deployment of geoengineering technologies.

E. The effects of global warming have come into sharper focus, resulting in the need to develop new means of cutting the emissions of greenhouse gases.

3 
3. The passage most strongly implies which of the follwing?

A. The easiest and most cost-effective means of geoengineering is likely to be launching reflective materials into the upper atmosphere

B. Cooling the planet through geoengineering will repair the damage caused by climate change

C. Without creating an international program of scientific research into geoengineering, any field trials of geoengineering efforts will likely lead to widespread protests

D. Implementation of geoengineering will ultimaely be necessary to counteract the effects of climate change.

E. Norms governing nuclear testing during Cold War were directly influenced by research conducts by nuclear scientists.

4 
4. Which of the following most accurately describes the structure of the passage as a whole?

A. A response to the problem mentioned in the first paragraph is presented in the second paragraph and is supported and fleshed out in later paragraphs.

B. A claim made in the first paragraph is explained in the second and third paragraphs and justified with three points in the final parargraph.

C. A problem is posed in the first paragraph, an argument supporting the claim that the problem is serious is presented in the second and third paragraphs, and a solution is sketched in the final paragraph.

D. A problem is posed in the paragraph, one solution is suggested in the second paragraph, a potential problem with the solution is sketched in the third paragraph, and a different solution is offered and argued for with three points in the final paragraph.

E. A general view is supported in the first paragraph, criticized in the second and third paragraphs, with poterntial means of defleciting these criticisms offered in the final paragraph.

dine5207 · Answer

Swagatalaxmi  : Here are my two cents-

1. The passage indicates that, at the time the passage was written, discussion of geoengineering tended

A. to take for granted that international efforts will eventually successfully reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted- wrong. Passage only discusses about the feasibility of geoengineering, but no where in the passage mentioned about "how successfully it will reduce."

B. to be uniformed by current science- Wrong, not mentioned anywhere in the passage about the "uniformed by current science".

C. to disregard questions of what norms should govern the testing and possible deployment of geoengineering technologies-Wrong, again nowhere its mentioned in the passage about dis regarding something "

D. to be unduly influenced by prejudice against geoengineering- Wrong, again nowhere its mentioned in the passage about "partiality about geoengineering" rather author is more cautious of implementing.

E. not to involve a focused assessment of the concrete risks of geoengineering- Correct, if you read the passage clearly from passage 4 & 4 author is very cautious of negative impacts of geoengineering if not taken cooperative International effect.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation    
   3. The passage most strongly implies which of the follwing?

Explanation

A  focuses solely on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of one method of geoengineering mentioned in the passage: launching reflective materials into the upper atmosphere. While the passage does discuss this method as a potential means of geoengineering, it does not explicitly state that it is the easiest or most cost-effective. Moreover, the passage emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in geoengineering efforts, suggesting that there may be other considerations beyond just ease and cost-effectiveness.

B  oversimplifies the role of geoengineering in addressing climate change. While the passage discusses the potential of geoengineering to counteract the warming effect of greenhouse gas emissions, it does not suggest that geoengineering alone will repair all the damage caused by climate change. Instead, it presents geoengineering as one potential solution among others, alongside efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

C  While the passage emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and scientific research in geoengineering efforts, it does not explicitly suggest that field trials without such research would lead to widespread protests. Instead, it highlights the potential catastrophic consequences of unilateral geoengineering and the need for proactive international cooperation to prevent such actions.

D  implies that geoengineering will be necessary to counteract the effects of climate change. While the passage does discuss the potential role of geoengineering in mitigating the effects of climate change, it does not assert that its implementation will ultimately be necessary. Instead, it presents geoengineering as one potential solution among others and emphasizes the need for further scientific research to understand the risks and implications of geoengineering before considering its implementation.

E   reflects a parallel drawn in the passage between the influence of scientists in creating norms for nuclear testing during the Cold War and the potential influence of scientists in crafting norms for geoengineering technologies. The passage discusses how scientists could be influential in creating norms for the testing and possible deployment of geoengineering technologies, similar to how nuclear scientists influenced pivotal government decisions during the Cold War. E is correct.

Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. Which of the following most accurately describes the structure of the passage as a whole?

Explanation

The structure of the passage suggests that the passage begins with the introduction of a problem (climate change and its effects) in the first paragraph, followed by a response to this problem in the second paragraph (suggestions for addressing the danger of climate change), and this response is further supported and elaborated on in later paragraphs. A fits this passage structure.

B  suggests a structure where a claim made in the first paragraph is explained and justified in subsequent paragraphs. However, the passage does not neatly follow this sequence. While the first paragraph introduces the problem of climate change, the subsequent paragraphs introduce both a proposed solution (geoengineering) and discussions about challenges and potential solutions, rather than solely explaining and justifying the claim made in the first paragraph.

C  outlines a structure where the seriousness of the problem introduced in the first paragraph is supported in subsequent paragraphs, and a solution is suggested in the final paragraph. However, the passage does not strictly follow this sequence. While the second and third paragraphs discuss the seriousness of the problem and potential solutions (including geoengineering), the final paragraph does not solely sketch a solution but rather outlines a proposed international program of scientific research.

D  describes a structure where a problem is introduced, a solution is suggested, a potential problem with that solution is presented, and then a different solution is offered and argued for. While the passage does introduce a problem and suggest a solution in the second paragraph (geoengineering), it does not directly present a potential problem with that solution in the third paragraph. Instead, it discusses potential challenges associated with unilateral geoengineering. Additionally, the final paragraph does not offer a different solution but rather elaborates on the proposed solution of geoengineering.

E  suggests a structure where a general view is introduced and supported, criticized in subsequent paragraphs, and potential means of addressing those criticisms are offered in the final paragraph. However, the passage does not follow this sequence precisely. While the first paragraph introduces a general view (the danger of climate change and the need to cut emissions), the subsequent paragraphs do not solely criticize this view. Instead, they introduce a proposed solution (geoengineering) and discuss potential challenges and the need for international cooperation. Additionally, the final paragraph does not solely offer means of deflecting criticisms but rather outlines a proposed international program of scientific research.

Answer: A

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 4

Question 4 asks about the structure of the passage as a whole. To answer broad questions like this, first ask yourself why the author wrote each paragraph.

Here's an example of that for this passage:

Paragraph 1.  The author introduces a problem : global warming.
 
 Paragraph 2:  The author dismisses one solution, then introduces another.  Reducing carbon emmissions is hard, while geoengineering is more "feasible."
 
 Paragraph 3:  The author gives more detail about geoengineering,  including some potential difficulties.
 
 Paragraph 4:  The author gives even more detail about geoengineering,  including a call to action.

In all, the author first introduces a problem, and then discusses a solution to that problem.

Starting with (D):

The issue with (D) is that the final paragraph isn't offering a  different  solution. From the middle of the second paragraph to the end of the passage, the author is discussing the SAME solution: geoengineering.

(D) is out.

Here's (A):

This fits nicely with our breakdown of the paragraphs!

(A) is the correct answer to question 4.

I hope that helps!

carcass · Answer

Explanation of the passage

The effects of climate change are coming into sharper focus: because of increased global temperatures, sea levels are rising, plants are blooming earlier in the spring, and water supplies are declining. That the global climate may reach a dangerous turning point, threatening food supplies, has become a real possibility.

In brief, climate change is a real threat

The best way to reduce this danger is to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. But success requires that all major greenhouse-gas- emitting countries, with their divergent, often conflicting interests, cooperate for several decades in a sustained effort to develop and deploy new technology that produces much lower emissions. Incentives to drop out of this effort, thereby avoiding the high cost of emission controls, will be strong. A more feasible solution is for governments to promote an international cooperative study and the eventual implementation of geoengineering the deliberate manipulation of Earth's atmosphere to counteract the warming effect of greenhouse-gas emissions.

Fight the climate change requires a coordination among the nations at large. On a massive scale. Maybe we do have a shortcut: geoengineering to curb the gas emissions

This must be an international effort, because unilateral geoengineering could have detrimental consequences. The discovery of the cooling effects of volcanic emissions has suggested a means of geoengineering that is feasible for any reasonably technologically advanced nation and relatively inexpensive. For as little as a few billion dollars, a nation could emulate these volcanic effects by deliberately putting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere. Without proactive international cooperation, a country may conclude that global warming has become so harmful to its interests that it should unilaterally engage in geoengineering without considering the effects on other countries, effects that could be catastrophic.

This new field of study is based on the assumption that the volcanic eruptions ignite in the atmosphere sulfur dioxide and hashes, clouding the planet. As such, the x-ray from the sun will not reach our planet and will be reflected back into the outer space. However, there is a caveat: if a nation acts alone without a real coordination with the others we could have negative effect on those area of the planet even though those countries do not want use this way to solvethe climate change

‎ ‎  Thus, governments must support an international program of scientific research that would help on three fronts: (1) transform discussion about geoengineering into focused assessment of concrete risks; (2) secure funding and political cover for essential but controversial experiments that are conducted by the world's leading scientists and are evaluated in a fully transparent fashion; (3) craft norms for the testing and possible deployment of geoengineering technologies. Scientists could be influential in creating these norms, just as nuclear scientists framed options on nuclear testing and influenced pivotal government decisions during the Cold War.

The govs should act in unity to assess the benefits and the cons of this new field of studies in there ways enlisted above

carcass · Answer

Question #1

1. The passage indicates that, at the time the passage was written, discussion of geoengineering tended

A. to take for granted that international efforts will eventually  successfully  reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted

No mention in the passage that we will succeed or not

B. to be uniformed by current science

More way was to come. we did not know yet much information about this new way to curb the climate change

C. to  disregard questions  of what norms should govern the testing and possible deployment of geonengineering technologies

nothing is mentioned in the passage the we had to disregard questions about how or when to use this technology. If any, was the contrary: ask more to know more

D. to be unduly  influenced by prejudice  against geoengineering

no mention about biases

E. not to involve a focused assessment of the concrete risks of geoengineering

This is correct and it is shared in the last paragraph. It is said that we MUST know more about because the risks could be huge

carcass · Answer

Question #2

2. Which of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

A. The discovery of the cooling effects of volcanic emissions has led to the threat of potentially catastrophic unilateral geoengineering on the part of a reasonably technologically advanced nation

B. To confront the threat of global warming and helo forestall potential risky unilateral action, governements should promote an international study of geoengineering.

C. The best way to reduce the danger of climate change is through geoengineering, but without further study its effects will not be well understood

D. A research program conducted by the world's leading scientists could effectively establish norms for the testing and deployment of geoengineering technologies.

E. The effects of global warming have come into sharper focus, resulting in the need to develop new means of cutting the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Clearly is B the correct answer. If you read the passage as a whole this is not a difficult question to nail

Geoeng is a promising solution ti fight climate change but we need more studies, more coordination among nations, and a careful evaluation of all the aspects involved

carcass · Answer

Question #3

3. The passage most strongly implies which of the following?

A. The easiest and most cost-effective means of geoengineering is likely to be launching reflective materials into the upper atmosphere

We do not know this details. The passage does not mention for example that the geoeng is cost-effective

B. Cooling the planet through geoengineering  will repair the damage caused by climate change

We do not know this either

C. Without creating an international program of scientific research into geoengineering, any field trials of geoengineering efforts will likely lead to  widespread protests

No unrest in the population is mentioned or in several nations

D. Implementation of geoengineering will ultimaely be  necessary  to counteract the effects of climate change.

No mention that it is mandatory

E. Norms governing nuclear testing during Cold War were directly influenced by research conducts by nuclear scientists.

Clearly E. It is the only mentioned in the passage

carcass · Answer

Question #4

4. Which of the following most accurately describes the structure of the passage as a whole?

A. A response to the problem mentioned in the first paragraph is presented in the second paragraph and is supported and fleshed out in later paragraphs.

B. A claim made in the first paragraph is explained in the second and third paragraphs and justified with three points in the final parargraph.

C. A problem is posed in the first paragraph, an argument supporting the claim that the problem is serious is presented in the second and third paragraphs, and  a solution is sketched in the final paragraph.

D. A problem is posed in the paragraph, one solution is suggested in the second paragraph, a potential problem with the solution is sketched in the third paragraph, and  a different solution is offered and argued for with three points in the final paragraph.
 
E. A general view is supported in the first paragraph, criticized in the second and third paragraphs, with poterntial means of d efleciting these criticisms offered in the final paragraph.

This is a bit tricky. Clearly based on the final parts in C,D, and E those are wrong because nothing of them is true in the last paragraph

in B we do have that something justify in the third paragraph what is stated in the second and third one. This is false of course

A is the best answer

Mskn · Answer

3. The passage most strongly implies which of the follwing?

A. The easiest and most cost-effective means of geoengineering is likely to be launching reflective materials into the upper atmosphere

B. Cooling the planet through geoengineering will repair the damage caused by climate change

C. Without creating an international program of scientific research into geoengineering, any field trials of geoengineering efforts will likely lead to widespread protests

D. Implementation of geoengineering will ultimaely be necessary to counteract the effects of climate change.

E. Norms governing nuclear testing during Cold War were directly influenced by research conducts by nuclear scientists.

For this question aren't we supposed to find what the passage "most strongly implies"?
Doesn't the word imply mean “to indicate or suggest something without actually stating it”.?
So, my question is, if I was supposed to find implications / inferences in the passage, shouldn't I be looking at something that is not clearly stated in the passage word by word?
If this reasoning is right then how is option E possible, when the exact same is mentioned in the passage..
Can someone please explain this and the difference between what is expected when the question has Imply vs when the question has Infer?

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 3 
 
Choice (E) is very similar to the final sentence of the passage, but it's not quite the same.

The passage tells us that "nuclear scientists framed options on nuclear testing and influenced pivotal government decisions during the Cold War." Notice that, unlike (E), there's no mention of " research  conducted by nuclear scientists" or of " norms  governing nuclear testing." Also, the passage doesn't specifically say that the scientists' research directly influenced the norms.

Is (E) very similar to what the passage says? Yes, but that still counts as an inference -- the passage implies that (E) is true, but it does not state it directly.

In general, if you come across an inference answer choice that seems to good to be true (too similar to something in the passage), you've probably found your answer. An inference can certainly be several logical steps away from what's stated in the passage, but it can also be a simple restatement of what's already there.

I hope that helps!

shashank07! · Answer

GMATNinja  why B is wrong here?

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 4 Well, does the first paragraph make a claim that's explained in the second and third paragraphs and then justified with three points in the final paragraph? If so, what claim is that? The first paragraph describes a problem: climate change could threaten food supplies. Paragraphs 2-4 discuss possible solutions to that problem, but they do NOT further explain the problem or attempt to justify the claim that the problem exists. So (A) is a better choice, as explained here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-effects- ... l#p3421179.

emtroy · Answer

I eliminated E as well, but for a different reason: it felt relatively explicit in the passage, and the question asks for what the passage most strongly implies. I had chosen D, because by only expanding on geoengineering it seemed to imply that geoengineering would be necessary. I get that the passage goes on the suggest more research is needed, but I suppose I assumed it implied research on geoengineering... Help! Thanks

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 3 We attempted to address your question in an earlier post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-effects- ... l#p3475600. (D) is out because implementation of geoengineering is described as the "more feasible" option compared to cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The latter is described as the BEST way to reduce the effects of climate change, but unfortunately it is likely to fail because the major greenhouse-gas-emitting countries will likely not be able to cooperate. Is geoengineering necessary? No. Cutting emissions (and perhaps other options not mentioned in the passage) COULD work, but, according to the author, geoengineering is a more feasible option. In short, just because it's the most feasible option, doesn't mean that it's the ONLY option. I hope that helps!

callingTardis · Answer

ELIMINATION ELIMINATION ELIMINATION

Q1:
A:  eventually --- Eliminate 
B: We dont know this
C: We dont know this, maybe the discussion hasnt progressed to norms, or maybe it has but regards
D: Out of scope, no  prejudices mentioned

Q2: 
 A:  a  reasonably technologically advanced  nation  --- Eliminate 
 C: best is never said, author says a more feasible 
 D: too narrow, only talks about 3rd point of last para 
 E: skips Geo-E, the hero of passage, completely

Q3: 
 A:  easiest and most cost-effective  --- Eliminate 
 B: We dont know this, maybe it will only help a little, maybe the damage is 100 and it will repair 35 
 C: Out of scope, no protests mentioned 
 D:  ultimately  - We dont know this, maybe something than Geo-E better will come through

Q4:
B: the claim/opinion(Geo-E) is not made in 1st para
C: the  problem(climate change) is serious is only presented in 1st and not 2nd and 3rd. 2nd talks about issues related to a solution, not the problem itself.  
D: a potential problem with the solution(combined effort at cutting emissions) is NOT sketched in the third paragraph but only in 2nd before proposinG Geo-E
E: No criticisms present, purely factual passage

RiyaJ0032 · Answer

E is not entirely correctly, cause it mentions something not given in the passage

we know the norms were designed by nuclear scientists
we know these norms influenced govt decisions

but we do not know what directly/indirectly influenced these norms

The passage doesn’t say the influence was directly via research; it’s more general influence

GMATNinja · Answer

Question 3

Note the wording of question #3: "The passage  most strongly implies  which of the following?".

So we aren't looking for something directly stated in the passage. Instead, we're looking for something that is supported by the information in the passage.

I hope that helps a bit!

siya1998 · Answer

For question 3, option C should be correct how is the option E correct. The last paragraph says Scientists could be influential....just as .... It does a parallelization of the role that Scientists can play in creating norms for testing and deployment of geoengineering technologies.

The effects of climate change are coming into sharper focus: because o

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The effects of climate change are coming into sharper focus: because o

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