Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 09:04 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 09:04
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   
605-655 Level|   Long Passage|   Science|            
avatar
gmatconqueror2018
avatar
Joined: 01 Nov 2018
Last visit: 13 Sep 2019
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
35
 [1]
Given Kudos: 8
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
GPA: 3.88
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35
Posts: 63
Kudos: 35
 [1]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 08 Feb 2019, 06:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
4/4 in 9:48 on the first 4 questions. 6/7 total in 14:16 with the last one wrong. Last one is hard but the mention of waves implies that the creatures may have lived near bodies of water. None of the other choices can be inferred. I chose D as that was the most relevant choice and was spending too much time. Hard question for sure and on the actual GMAT, a question such as that is not worth spending too much time since the changes of getting it right are low and you will lose time on other Verbal questions. Definitely a 750+ difficulty. Good, dense passage.
User avatar
Harsh2111s
User avatar
Joined: 08 May 2019
Last visit: 10 Feb 2021
Posts: 315
Own Kudos:
266
Given Kudos: 54
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
Schools: IIM (D) S.P.Jain Institute (A) XLRI IIML-IPMX '22 NUS '23
GPA: 4
WE:Manufacturing and Production (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: IIM (D) S.P.Jain Institute (A) XLRI IIML-IPMX '22 NUS '23
Posts: 315
Kudos: 266
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 10 May 2020, 21:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.
(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.
(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.
(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.
(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.
Show more

Can someone explain how we can choose between option B and D ?
GMATNinja ,

Also need help with Q7, any other explanation besides mentioned in above posts.
User avatar
Sneha2021
User avatar
Joined: 20 Dec 2020
Last visit: 10 Jun 2025
Posts: 314
Own Kudos:
38
Given Kudos: 522
Location: India
Posts: 314
Kudos: 38
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 27 Mar 2021, 12:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Harsh2111s

You can get relevant info from these lines - Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight.

By POE, B is the only information given in the passage. Para explains how hairy coat (appearance) helps to insulate against loss of body heat.
Nowhere D info is mentioned in the passage


Harsh2111s
Quote:
4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.
(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.
(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.
(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.
(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.

Can someone explain how we can choose between option B and D ?
GMATNinja ,

Also need help with Q7, any other explanation besides mentioned in above posts.
Show more
avatar
suhanisinghal
avatar
Joined: 27 Apr 2021
Last visit: 06 Feb 2022
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 7
Kudos: 2
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 22 Jun 2021, 18:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
can anyone please explain question 7....in the entire passage there is no mention of water or anything related to it.
User avatar
MBAB123
User avatar
Joined: 05 Jul 2020
Last visit: 30 Jul 2023
Posts: 563
Own Kudos:
318
 [1]
Given Kudos: 151
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
WE:Accounting (Accounting)
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
Posts: 563
Kudos: 318
 [1]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 23 Jun 2021, 20:56
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
suhanisinghal
can anyone please explain question 7....in the entire passage there is no mention of water or anything related to it.
Show more

suhanisinghal, although I got this right by POE, the answer lies in the last paragraph (see the highlighted portion) - Waives --> water bodies.

"Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne."
User avatar
BodhiChatterjee
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jul 2021
Last visit: 23 Jun 2024
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Schools: McCombs '26 (D) McCombs (WD) Tepper '26 (WL) Owen '26 (D) ISB '25 (D) Foster (D) Marshall (D) Goizueta '26 (D) Questrom '26 (WL) Mendoza '26 (D) Rice Jones '26 (WL) Kelley '26 (D) McDonough '26 (WL)
GMAT 1: 640 Q45 V32
GMAT 2: 650 Q46 V35
GPA: 3.1
WE:Analyst (Other)
Schools: McCombs '26 (D) McCombs (WD) Tepper '26 (WL) Owen '26 (D) ISB '25 (D) Foster (D) Marshall (D) Goizueta '26 (D) Questrom '26 (WL) Mendoza '26 (D) Rice Jones '26 (WL) Kelley '26 (D) McDonough '26 (WL)
GMAT 2: 650 Q46 V35
Posts: 107
Kudos: 18
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 17 Jul 2021, 05:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can you please provide an explanation for #7?
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,443
Own Kudos:
69,784
 [3]
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,443
Kudos: 69,784
 [3]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 29 Jul 2021, 08:18
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Question 7


BodhiChatterjee
Can you please provide an explanation for #7?
Show more
Brian123 explained (A) for question 7 in this post, but see below for our two cents in case it helps.

Quote:
7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water
Show more
In paragraph 5, the author presents the hypothesis that pterosaurs took flight by “rising…from crests of waves." As far as I know, the only places that have waves are large bodies of water. Therefore, some scientists must think that pterosaurs lived near large bodies of water. Let’s hang on to (A).

Quote:
B) had sharp teeth for tearing food
Show more
The passage doesn’t mention pterosaurs' teeth. (B) is out.

Quote:
(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles
Show more
Again, not mentioned in the passage. (C) is out.

Quote:
(D) had longer tails than many birds
Show more
In paragraphs 2 and 3, pterosaurs are compared to birds. But tails are not mentioned. (D) is out.

Quote:
(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature
Show more
Nope – we don’t learn anything about what pterosaurs ate. (E) is out.

So we’re left with (A).

I hope that helps!
avatar
PrachiMaloo
avatar
Joined: 27 May 2021
Last visit: 19 Jan 2022
Posts: 46
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 46
Kudos: 8
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 30 Jul 2021, 04:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can anyone explain questions 1,4 and 5?
avatar
ksramanv
avatar
Joined: 26 May 2021
Last visit: 18 Mar 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 34
Location: India
Schools: Booth '24 Broad Johnson '24 Kelley '24 Kellogg '24 Sloan '24 Tuck '24
GMAT 1: 680 Q45 V45
Schools: Booth '24 Broad Johnson '24 Kelley '24 Kellogg '24 Sloan '24 Tuck '24
GMAT 1: 680 Q45 V45
Posts: 5
Kudos: 3
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 31 Jul 2021, 00:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone explain the second question to me? The paragraph has the following information

"...........that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves."

The Structure of the passage is a, b or c. So First is jumping from cliffs, second is dropping from trees and third is rising from crests of waves. The question is about the views the author on idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves. Which is the third one. The paragraph has the following in reference to the third idea

"The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne."

The official answer is that its unlikely but in the paragraph, its used to talk about the second idea ie 'b'

"The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings."

Thanks in advance :)
User avatar
bM22
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 May 2016
Last visit: 17 Jul 2025
Posts: 716
Own Kudos:
784
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,316
Location: India
Schools: IIM (A) IIM (A) IIM-A '24 (A) ISB '24 (A)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: IIM (A) IIM (A) IIM-A '24 (A) ISB '24 (A)
Posts: 716
Kudos: 784
 [1]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 31 Jul 2021, 05:24
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ksramanv
Can someone explain the second question to me? The paragraph has the following information

"...........that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves."

The Structure of the passage is a, b or c. So First is jumping from cliffs, second is dropping from trees and third is rising from crests of waves. The question is about the views the author on idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves. Which is the third one. The paragraph has the following in reference to the third idea

"The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne."

The official answer is that its unlikely but in the paragraph, its used to talk about the second idea ie 'b'

"The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings."

Thanks in advance :)
Show more


Hi ksramanv,

2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as

Consider the highlighted part of the last para:
Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.

We can infer that author views the idea that pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves also unlikely, when discussing about the difficulties in the other two hypothesis.

Thus B is the correct answer.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.
avatar
gonayfrank
avatar
Joined: 08 Jul 2022
Last visit: 08 Aug 2022
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 17 Jul 2022, 09:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Please explain me question 2. My choice is D) Probable Reason : "The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne." Here from the words of the passage we can infer that the author is not completely denying the possibility. The use of "might" makes option D a favorable choice for me.
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,443
Own Kudos:
69,784
 [2]
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,443
Kudos: 69,784
 [2]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 18 Jul 2022, 15:32
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Question 2


gonayfrank
Please explain me question 2. My choice is D) Probable Reason : "The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne." Here from the words of the passage we can infer that the author is not completely denying the possibility. The use of "might" makes option D a favorable choice for me.
Show more
By using the word "might," the author doesn't 100% rule out the possibility that pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves.

However, that's very different than saying that this hypothesis is "probable." "Probable" would indicate that the author thinks the hypothesis is likely correct. That's just not the case -- the author says that "each" hypothesis has its difficulties, and particularly mentions the strength of the wind as the problem with the wind wave hypothesis.

"Unlikely," as stated in (B), is a much better fit. Again, the author doesn't 100% rule out the hypothesis, but he/she does present some evidence against it.

(B) is the correct answer for question 2.

I hope that helps!
User avatar
iamthebest8055
User avatar
Joined: 01 Aug 2022
Last visit: 29 Jan 2024
Posts: 3
Location: India
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 06 Aug 2022, 08:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
how can we infer that pterosaures lived near water bodies
User avatar
MartyTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Last visit: 11 Aug 2023
Posts: 3,476
Own Kudos:
5,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,430
Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 3,476
Kudos: 5,579
 [1]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 06 Aug 2022, 09:00
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
iamthebest8055
how can we infer that pterosaures lived near water bodies
Show more
Here's what question 7 and its correct answer say exactly.

7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water

We can infer what choice (A) says from what the passage says in the fifth paragraph.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves ... by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. ... The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.

If some scientists have suggested that pterosaurs launched themselves from "high waves," then since such waves would only exist in large bodies of water, a reasonable conclusion is that "some scientists believe that pterosaurs lived near large bodies of water."
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,290
Own Kudos:
49,305
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,290
Kudos: 49,305
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 17 Sep 2022, 10:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Shahnazhusain0227
Please explain Q7
Show more

Welcome to GMAT Club

It is explained already in post in the link below:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-fossil-r ... l#p2830660

Good luck!
User avatar
woohoo921
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jun 2020
Last visit: 17 Mar 2023
Posts: 516
Own Kudos:
142
Given Kudos: 623
Posts: 516
Kudos: 142
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 03 Dec 2022, 10:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
RaviChandra
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were—reptiles or birds—are among the questions scientists have puzzled over.

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing-like membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body.

The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.

Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the

(A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances

(B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats

(C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight

(D) pterosaurs were reptiles

(E) pterosaurs walked on all fours


2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as

(A) revolutionary
(B) unlikely
(C) unassailable
(D) probable
(E) outdated


3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by the

(A) size of its wingspan
(B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones
(C) anatomic origin of its wing strut
(D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet
(E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its body


4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.

(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.

(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.

(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.

(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.


5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs?

(A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use.

(B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight.

(C) They flew in order to capture prey.

(D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds.

(E) They lived primarily in a forest-like habitat.


6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view.

(B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information.

(C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given.

(D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected.

(E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.


7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water

(B) had sharp teeth for tearing food

(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles

(D) had longer tails than many birds

(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature


Show Spoiler
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Pterosaurs
Wann Langston Jr.
Scientific American
Vol. 244, No. 2 (February 1981), pp. 122-137
Published by: Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24964287
Page Count: 16

Attachment:
Pterosaurs.pdf
Show more

KarishmaB

If I am counting correctly based on the format of this paragraph, it seems that there are about 50 lines to this passage? I am curious to learn more about your timing strategy for RC.

Do you allocate e.g., 3 minutes to passages that have greater than let's say 45 lines and 2 minutes to passages that have about 30 lines... assuming in both cases you spend on average 2 minutes per question?

Overall, I would be so appreciative for your point of view on timing for RC (e.g., or do you spend more on the passage e.g., 4 minutes and less on the questions e.g., 1 minute per question)?
User avatar
woohoo921
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jun 2020
Last visit: 17 Mar 2023
Posts: 516
Own Kudos:
142
Given Kudos: 623
Posts: 516
Kudos: 142
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 03 Dec 2022, 11:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja

Question 7


BodhiChatterjee
Can you please provide an explanation for #7?
Brian123 explained (A) for question 7 in this post, but see below for our two cents in case it helps.

Quote:
7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water
In paragraph 5, the author presents the hypothesis that pterosaurs took flight by “rising…from crests of waves." As far as I know, the only places that have waves are large bodies of water. Therefore, some scientists must think that pterosaurs lived near large bodies of water. Let’s hang on to (A).

Quote:
B) had sharp teeth for tearing food
The passage doesn’t mention pterosaurs' teeth. (B) is out.

Quote:
(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles
Again, not mentioned in the passage. (C) is out.

Quote:
(D) had longer tails than many birds
In paragraphs 2 and 3, pterosaurs are compared to birds. But tails are not mentioned. (D) is out.

Quote:
(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature
Nope – we don’t learn anything about what pterosaurs ate. (E) is out.

So we’re left with (A).

I hope that helps!
Show more

GMATNinja

I originally chose E. The passage states "T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature." Therefore, I was thinking that they need to eat more to maintain their weight. However, to clarify, this is incorrect for a few reasons because 1.) the question is asking for what the "scientists infer", so it does not make sense to look at paragraph 4 in which only T.H.'s view is discussed ... paragraph 5 is the one with the view of the "scientists" 2.) the following line says that "Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight", so from my understanding, they did not necessarily have a high metabolism, but it could have been the coat that just kept their body heat...I may be stretching here?
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
76,994
 [2]
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: 76,994
 [2]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 04 Dec 2022, 06:49
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
woohoo921
RaviChandra
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were—reptiles or birds—are among the questions scientists have puzzled over.

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing-like membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body.

The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.

Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the

(A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances

(B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats

(C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight

(D) pterosaurs were reptiles

(E) pterosaurs walked on all fours


2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as

(A) revolutionary
(B) unlikely
(C) unassailable
(D) probable
(E) outdated


3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by the

(A) size of its wingspan
(B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones
(C) anatomic origin of its wing strut
(D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet
(E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its body


4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.

(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.

(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.

(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.

(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.


5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs?

(A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use.

(B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight.

(C) They flew in order to capture prey.

(D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds.

(E) They lived primarily in a forest-like habitat.


6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view.

(B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information.

(C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given.

(D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected.

(E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.


7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water

(B) had sharp teeth for tearing food

(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles

(D) had longer tails than many birds

(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature


Show Spoiler
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Pterosaurs
Wann Langston Jr.
Scientific American
Vol. 244, No. 2 (February 1981), pp. 122-137
Published by: Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24964287
Page Count: 16

Attachment:
Pterosaurs.pdf

KarishmaB

If I am counting correctly based on the format of this paragraph, it seems that there are about 50 lines to this passage? I am curious to learn more about your timing strategy for RC.

Do you allocate e.g., 3 minutes to passages that have greater than let's say 45 lines and 2 minutes to passages that have about 30 lines... assuming in both cases you spend on average 2 minutes per question?

Overall, I would be so appreciative for your point of view on timing for RC (e.g., or do you spend more on the passage e.g., 4 minutes and less on the questions e.g., 1 minute per question)?
Show more

In a timed test such as this one, the idea would be to spend as little time as possible on each question (of course!). Your time allocation will vary a lot depending on the subject of the passage (your comfort in it), the length of the passage, the difficulty level of the passage, your reading speed and your time management till that point in the section.
There are no ideal time allocation figures - I would suggest test-takers to read the passage twice. First read to understand the subject being discussed and the second read to understand exactly what the passage tells us about that subject. This needs to be done in as little time as possible but properly so it varies widely even from one passage to another for the same test taker.
Once that is done, hopefully, the universal questions would be answered without going back to the passage. The specific detail questions would require going back to the part of the passage where that particular topic was discussed. I would suggest targeting, on average, about a minute per question now.
User avatar
woohoo921
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jun 2020
Last visit: 17 Mar 2023
Posts: 516
Own Kudos:
142
Given Kudos: 623
Posts: 516
Kudos: 142
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 04 Dec 2022, 09:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB
woohoo921
RaviChandra
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were—reptiles or birds—are among the questions scientists have puzzled over.

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing-like membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body.

The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.

Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the

(A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances

(B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats

(C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight

(D) pterosaurs were reptiles

(E) pterosaurs walked on all fours


2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as

(A) revolutionary
(B) unlikely
(C) unassailable
(D) probable
(E) outdated


3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by the

(A) size of its wingspan
(B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones
(C) anatomic origin of its wing strut
(D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet
(E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its body


4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.

(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.

(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.

(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.

(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.


5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs?

(A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use.

(B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight.

(C) They flew in order to capture prey.

(D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds.

(E) They lived primarily in a forest-like habitat.


6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view.

(B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information.

(C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given.

(D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected.

(E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.


7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water

(B) had sharp teeth for tearing food

(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles

(D) had longer tails than many birds

(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature


Show Spoiler
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Pterosaurs
Wann Langston Jr.
Scientific American
Vol. 244, No. 2 (February 1981), pp. 122-137
Published by: Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24964287
Page Count: 16

Attachment:
Pterosaurs.pdf

KarishmaB

If I am counting correctly based on the format of this paragraph, it seems that there are about 50 lines to this passage? I am curious to learn more about your timing strategy for RC.

Do you allocate e.g., 3 minutes to passages that have greater than let's say 45 lines and 2 minutes to passages that have about 30 lines... assuming in both cases you spend on average 2 minutes per question?

Overall, I would be so appreciative for your point of view on timing for RC (e.g., or do you spend more on the passage e.g., 4 minutes and less on the questions e.g., 1 minute per question)?

In a timed test such as this one, the idea would be to spend as little time as possible on each question (of course!). Your time allocation will vary a lot depending on the subject of the passage (your comfort in it), the length of the passage, the difficulty level of the passage, your reading speed and your time management till that point in the section.
There are no ideal time allocation figures - I would suggest test-takers to read the passage twice. First read to understand the subject being discussed and the second read to understand exactly what the passage tells us about that subject. This needs to be done in as little time as possible but properly so it varies widely even from one passage to another for the same test taker.
Once that is done, hopefully, the universal questions would be answered without going back to the passage. The specific detail questions would require going back to the part of the passage where that particular topic was discussed. I would suggest targeting, on average, about a minute per question now.
Show more

KarishmaB
As always, you are so lovely and helpful.
Do you have any guidelines for how long different passage lengths should take to reread (or for your strategy of rereading twice)? E.g., 3 minutes for 50 lines, 2 minutes for 30 lines? Do you take notes while reading? Thank you again :)
User avatar
singhaz
User avatar
Joined: 20 Feb 2021
Last visit: 23 May 2023
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
34
 [1]
Given Kudos: 24
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Technology
GPA: 2.8
Posts: 52
Kudos: 34
 [1]
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, ha 04 Dec 2022, 09:54
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were—reptiles or birds—are among the questions scientists have puzzled over.

Overall: How pterosaur flyed with such large wingspan is a puzzle for paleontologists.

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing-like membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body.

Overall: Most probably they are reptiles.

The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.
Overall: They are similar to both birds and baths as they have hollow bones.

Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct.
Overall: They have hairy coats because flying need high rate of metabolism.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.
Overall: Multiple suggestion how they become airborne but all are rejected.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the

(A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances

(B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats

(C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight

(D) pterosaurs were reptiles
Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles.
(E) pterosaurs walked on all fours

2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as

(A) revolutionary
(B) unlikely
The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.
(C) unassailable
(D) probable
(E) outdated

3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by the

(A) size of its wingspan
(B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones
(C) anatomic origin of its wing strut
The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers.
(D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet
(E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its body

4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.

(B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities.
T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight.

(C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time.

(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation.

(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles

5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs?

(A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use.
When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body.

(B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight.

(C) They flew in order to capture prey.

(D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds.

(E) They lived primarily in a forest-like habitat.

6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view.

(B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information.
correct

(C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given.

(D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected.

(E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn.


7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water
Mentioned in passage: The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts.
(B) had sharp teeth for tearing food

(C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles

(D) had longer tails than many birds

(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature
   1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
Sajjad1994
GRE Forum Moderator
17289 posts
miag
189 posts