The human species came into being at the time of the greatest biologic

Can somebody explain to me why A is right in question 6 no. 6?

Excellent work as always, SajjadAhmad!

Yep, this one relates to the following portion: "the value of Earth’s biota (the fauna and flora collectively) remains largely unstudied and unappreciated; unlike material and cultural wealth, which we understand because they are the substance of our everyday lives, biological wealth is usually taken for granted."

UNLIKE material and cultural wealth, biological wealth is usually taken for granted. From this, we can infer than material and cultural wealth are generally NOT taken for granted.

We don't take material and cultural wealth for granted because they are the substance of our everyday lives. We appreciate their value because we experience that value in our everyday lives. In other words, because we experience them in our everyday lives, we can readily assess their value, as stated in choice (A).

Why isnt't 3 E)?
It is mentioned- The most recent of these, during the Cretaceous period, is by far the most famous, because it ended the age of the dinosaurs, conferred hegemony on the mammals, and ultimately made possible the ascendancy of the human species.

So dinosaurs are majority since they had hegemony and they disappeared because 'age of dinosaur ended'

Also for 6, is the ans not A)?

The biota is not only part of a country’s heritage, the product of millions of years of evolution centered on that place; it is also a potential source for immense untapped material wealth in the form of food, medicine, and other commercially important substance.
Can't country's heritage be equivalent to cultural importance?

For 6A, it is written cultural and material wealth can be easily understood but assessing means more of estimating value and nothing is mentioned of that sort, especially for cultural wealth

SajjadAhmad

Please type your question completely, you mean why option E is incorrect in question number 3 right?

Yes, I had marked answer for 3rd question as E using the logic I posted in the previous comment. Why is that logic incorrect?

Alright !

In lines 21-23, the author mentions that between 77 and 96 percent of all marine animal species became extinct during the Permian extinction episode. In lines 20-21, the author says that the Cretaceous extinction episode was “minor” in comparison to the Permian. Thus, we can conclude that less than 77 percent of marine animal species became extinct during the “Cretaceous crisis.”

(E) is wrong because this extinction period was marked by the disappearance of the dinosaurs; this is only what makes it the “most famous” extinction episode. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the dinosaurs “comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.” For all we know, many more non-dinosaur species may have perished during this crisis.

• Correct answers will generally be worded somewhat differently than the passage itself.

hope it helps

Hi everyone,
Took 17 minutes and got 6/7 correct. Took 5 minutes to read, write down paragraph summaries and main point.

P1: biodiversity crisis
P2:History of global diversity and extinctions
P3:Human activity effect on biodiversity
P4:Loss biodiversity effect on biota

MP: present biodiversity crisis and the role of human activity in it

1. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

Pre-thinking:
refer to our main point formulation for this question

(A) The reduction in biodiversity is an irreversible process that represents a setback both for science and for society as a whole.
Nowhere it is said that the reduction is irreversible. Hence incorrect

(B) The material and cultural wealth of a nation are insignificant when compared with the country’s biological wealth.
This is related only to the last paragraph of the passage. Hence partial scope and incorrect

(C) The enormous diversity of life on Earth could not have come about without periodic extinctions that have conferred preeminence on one species at the expense of another.
This is related only to the second paragraph. Plus diversity size is not only caused by periodic extinctions. Hence incorrect

(D) The human species is in the process of initiating a massive extinction episode that may make past episodes look minor by comparison.
Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(E) The current decline in species diversity is human-induced tragedy of incalculable proportions that has potentially grave consequences for the human species.
This is in line with what the passage as a whole communicates. Hence correct


2. Which one of the following situations is most analogous to the history of global diversity summarized in Highlighted part of the passage?

Pre-thinking:
refer to the highlighted portion. It talks about an initial rise->fast rise->stop (stagnation)->slow constant rise.
Any option suggesting a similar trend will be our answer

(A) The number of fish in a lake declines abruptly as a result of water pollution, then makes a slow comeback after cleanup efforts and the passage of ordinances against dumping.
no decline discussed. Hence incorrect

(B) The concentration of chlorine in the water supply of large city fluctuates widely before stabilizing at a constant and safe level.
no fluctuation. Hence incorrect

(C) An old-fashioned article of clothing goes in and out of style periodically as a result of features in fashion magazines and the popularity of certain period films.
again no fluctuation. Hence incorrect

(D) After valuable mineral deposits are discovered, the population of a geographic region booms then levels off and begins to decrease at a slow and steady pace.
inconsistent for the last phase. There is a constant rise not a constant decrease. Hence incorrect

(E) The variety of styles stocked by a shoe store increases rapidly after the store opens, holds constant for many months, and then gradually creeps upward.
In line with our Prethinking. Hence correct


3. The author suggests which one of the following about the Cretaceous crisis?

Pre-thinking:
Refer to P2 and especially to the non-underlined portion of the paragraph.
attributes:
-most recent
-most famous
-ended dinosaurs age
-minor compared to PE

(A) It was the second most devastating extinction episode in history.
Cannot be inferred. It was one of the most recent and famous but no information whether it was the 2nd most important. Hence incorrect

(B) It was the most devastating extinction episode up until that time.
no. it was a minor one compared to one of the previous (PE). Hence incorrect

(C) It was less devastating to species diversity than is the current biodiversity crisis.
Cannot be inferred by the given information. Hence incorrect

(D) The rate of extinction among marine animal species as a result of the crisis did not approach 77 percent.
We are given that Ccrisis was minor compared to PE where that rate was approached. This is a reasonable inference to make given the information although the scenario in which Ccrisis approached that rate but was still minor compared to PE is a possibility. Hence correct

(E) The dinosaurs comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.
The information given says that Ccrisis is famous for ending the dinosaurs age but it does not say that other species could have been eliminated more significantly. Hence incorrect.


4. The author mentions the Nile perch in order to provide an example of

Pre-thinking:
Refer to P3 and especially to: "Hundreds of fish species endemic to Lake Victoria are now threatened with extinction following the careless introduction of one species of fish, the Nile perch."

(A) a species that has become extinct through human activity
The nile perch was the reason for other species to become extinct. Hence incrrect

(B) the typical lack of foresight that has led to biogeographic disaster
As the underlined portion in our pre-thinking says the introduction of nile perch was careless. So it makes sense to say that there was a lack of foresight. Hence correct

(C) a marine animal species that survived the Permian extinctions
out of context and incorrect.

(D) a species that is a potential source of material wealth
Out of context here. Hence incorrect

(E) the kind of action that is necessary to reverse the decline in species diversity
I'd say opposite. Carefulness on the contrary would have helped to preserve diversity in this case. Hence incorrect


5. All of the following are explicitly mentioned in the passage as contributing to the extinction of species EXCEPT

Pre-thinking:
Many factors contributing to extinction are mentioned in P1 and P3 so I would work on them for answering this question.

(A) hunting
Mentioned in P3. Hence incorrect

(B) pollution
Although our common knowledge would mark this answer as correct this factor is never mentioned in the passage. Hence correct

(C) deforestation
Mentioned in P3. Hence incorrect

(D) the growth of human populations
Mentioned in P1. Hence incorrect

(E) human-engineered changes in the environment
Mentioned in P1. Hence incorrect



6. The passage suggests which one of the following about material and cultural wealth?

Pre-thinking:
M&CW are discussed in the last paragraph. Refer to these line especially : "unlike material and cultural wealth, which we understand because they are the substance of our everyday lives, biological wealth is usually taken for granted."
So:
- we understand M&CW because we see them every day
- the previous bullet point is in contrast with biological wealth, which is taken for granted
So an inference that we can make is that we would understand better biological wealth if we saw it every day and that we don't take M&CW for granted since we see them everyday

(A) Because we can readily assess the value of material and cultural wealth, we tend not to take them for granted.
In line with prethinking. Hence correct

(B) Just as the biota is a source of potential material wealth, it is an untapped source of cultural wealth as well.
Cannot be inferred by the information in the passage. Hence incorrect

(C) Some degree of material and cultural wealth may have to be sacrificed if we are to protect our biological heritage.
Cannot be inferred by the given information. Hence incorrect

(D) Material and cultural wealth are of less value than biological wealth because they have evolved over a shorter period of time.
Cannot be inferred by the given information. Hence incorrect

(E) Material wealth and biological wealth are interdependent in a way that material wealth and cultural wealth are not.
Cannot be inferred by the information given. Hence incorrect


7. The author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about the consequences of the biodiversity crisis?

Pre-thinking:
Consequences are discussed in P1: "The ultimate consequences of this biological collision are beyond calculation, but they are certain to be harmful. That, in essence, is the biodiversity crisis."

(A) The loss of species diversity will have as immediate an impact on the material of nations as on their biological wealth.
Inconsistent because of immediate. Hence incorrect

(B) The crisis will likely end the hegemony of the human race and bring about the ascendancy of another species.
Never mentioned and quite funny statement. Hence incorrect

(C) The effects of the loss of species diversity will be dire, but we cannot yet tell how dire.
in line with the portion highlighted in the pre-thinking. Hence correct

(D) It is more fruitful to discuss the consequences of the crisis in terms of the potential loss to humanity than in strictly biological loss to humanity than in strictly biological terms.
Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(E) The consequences of the crisis can be minimized, but the pace of extinctions can not be reversed.
Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

P1: Intro
Author; Bio crisis harmful

P2: Bio div took long time; Diff crisis

P3: Human act decrease bio div; Example

P4: bio decrease=Envi change
Author: Bio Imp

1. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

(A) The reduction in biodiversity is an irreversible process that represents a setback both for science and for society as a whole.-not given
(B) The material and cultural wealth of a nation are insignificant when compared with the country’s biological wealth.-only last para
(C) The enormous diversity of life on Earth could not have come about without periodic extinctions that have conferred preeminence on one species at the expense of another.-exaggerated inference of a para
(D) The human species is in the process of initiating a massive extinction episode that may make past episodes look minor by comparison.-talked about harmful not extinction.
(E) The current decline in species diversity is human-induced tragedy of incalculable proportions that has potentially grave consequences for the human species.-correct

2. Which one of the following situations is most analogous to the history of global diversity summarized in Highlighted part of the passage?

(A) The number of fish in a lake declines abruptly as a result of water pollution, then makes a slow comeback after cleanup efforts and the passage of ordinances against dumping.
(B) The concentration of chlorine in the water supply of large city fluctuates widely before stabilizing at a constant and safe level.
(C) An old-fashioned article of clothing goes in and out of style periodically as a result of features in fashion magazines and the popularity of certain period films.
(D) After valuable mineral deposits are discovered, the population of a geographic region booms then levels off and begins to decrease at a slow and steady pace.
(E) The variety of styles stocked by a shoe store increases rapidly after the store opens, holds constant for many months, and then gradually creeps upward.-correct

History summary: Sharp inc; stagnation; slow inc.

3. The author suggests which one of the following about the Cretaceous crisis?

(A) It was the second most devastating extinction episode in history.- no rank given
(B) It was the most devastating extinction episode up until that time.- not given
(C) It was less devastating to species diversity than is the current biodiversity crisis.-irrelevant comparison
(D) The rate of extinction among marine animal species as a result of the crisis did not approach 77 percent.-correct
(E) The dinosaurs comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.-cannot be infered

4. The author mentions the Nile perch in order to provide an example of

(A) a species that has become extinct through human activity
(B) the typical lack of foresight that has led to biogeographic disaster-the line in italics
(C) a marine animal species that survived the Permian extinctions
(D) a species that is a potential source of material wealth
(E) the kind of action that is necessary to reverse the decline in species diversity

Here the knowledge of SC can help you identify what Nile Perch is
Hundreds of fish species endemic to Lake Victoria are now threatened with extinction following the careless introduction of one species of fish, the Nile perch. The list of such biogeographic disasters is extensive.
The underlined part is referring to Nile Perch. From the Bold and underlined part it can be infered that the Nile Perch has entered in the threat of extinction list.

All of the following are explicitly mentioned in the passage as contributing to the extinction of species EXCEPT

(A) hunting
(B) pollution
(C) deforestation
(D) the growth of human populations
(E) human-engineered changes in the environment

I was confused between B and D. Chose B as it was nowhere mentioned in the passage.

6. The passage suggests which one of the following about material and cultural wealth?

(A) Because we can readily assess the value of material and cultural wealth, we tend not to take them for granted.- inferred from unlike material and cultural wealth, which we understand because they are the substance of our everyday lives, biological wealth is usually taken for granted.
(B) Just as the biota is a source of potential material wealth, it is an untapped source of cultural wealth as well.
(C) Some degree of material and cultural wealth may have to be sacrificed if we are to protect our biological heritage.
(D) Material and cultural wealth are of less value than biological wealth because they have evolved over a shorter period of time.
(E) Material wealth and biological wealth are interdependent in a way that material wealth and cultural wealth are not.

7. The author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about the consequences of the biodiversity crisis?

(A) The loss of species diversity will have as immediate an impact on the material of nations as on their biological wealth.
(B) The crisis will likely end the hegemony of the human race and bring about the ascendancy of another species.
(C) The effects of the loss of species diversity will be dire, but we cannot yet tell how dire. - P1 The ultimate consequences of this biological collision are beyond calculation, but they are certain to be harmful. That, in essence, is the biodiversity crisis.
(D) It is more fruitful to discuss the consequences of the crisis in terms of the potential loss to humanity than in strictly biological loss to humanity than in strictly biological terms.
(E) The consequences of the crisis can be minimized, but the pace of extinctions can not be reversed.

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Hi, In question 1. Why can't D be correct? Or am I understanding it differently? Please explain GMATNinja SajjadAhmad

Reference for D is found in the first para:
"Today, as human populations expand and alter the natural environment, they are reducing biological diversity to its lowest level since the end of the Mesozoic era, 65 million years ago. "

Why D is wrong

(D) is too extreme. While the author suggests that today’s biodiversity crisis is a potential disaster, he doesn’t imply that it could be worse than past episodes of mass extinction.

Thank you

Okay so "reducing to its lowest level" does not count as worst than the past episodes? I am putting more emphasis on this doubt just to be sure of what is too extreme as per GMAT.

In short words anything more or less than the requirement by the question or passage is extreme.

3. The author suggests which one of the following about the Cretaceous crisis?

(A) It was the second most devastating extinction episode in history.
(B) It was the most devastating extinction episode up until that time.
(C) It was less devastating to species diversity than is the current biodiversity crisis.
(D) The rate of extinction among marine animal species as a result of the crisis did not approach 77 percent.
(E) The dinosaurs comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.

I found this question to very challenging. It is a critical reasoning question disguised in a RC passage.

The contenders are D and E

In passage we are told that the dinosaurs species became extinct in Cretaceous crisis, but we do not know whether dinosaurs species formed a majority of the species that became extinct. It may or may not be true.
So E is out
D is the correct answer
Reasoning for D is that In Permian extinctions between 77 and 96 percent of marine animal species perished, so Cretaceous crisis must have extinctions less than 77 %

1. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

(A) The reduction in biodiversity is an irreversible process that represents a setback both for science and for society as a whole. X
(B) The material and cultural wealth of a nation are insignificant when compared with the country’s biological wealth. X
-too extreme
(C) The enormous diversity of life on Earth could not have come about without periodic extinctions that have conferred preeminence on one species at the expense of another. X
-too extreme...is it plausible? Possibly considering that dinosaurs had to go extinct for us to thrive...but we don't know if it's true that we wouldn't have come to being anyway
(D) The human species is in the process of initiating a massive extinction episode that may make past episodes look minor by comparison. X
(E) The current decline in species diversity is human-induced tragedy of incalculable proportions that has potentially grave consequences for the human species. CORRECT (I eliminated A) because I felt the passage didn't put too much emphasis on 'science'...granted there was a mention of medicine, but that's a real trivial mention)..."incalculable proportions" is bang on here...the last paragraph states that we don't really know how bad the consequences of a reduction on biodiversity will be...

2. Which one of the following situations is most analogous to the history of global diversity summarized in Highlighted part of the passage?

(A) The number of fish in a lake declines abruptly as a result of water pollution, then makes a slow comeback after cleanup efforts and the passage of ordinances against dumping. X
(B) The concentration of chlorine in the water supply of large city fluctuates widely before stabilizing at a constant and safe level. X
(C) An old-fashioned article of clothing goes in and out of style periodically as a result of features in fashion magazines and the popularity of certain period films. X
(D) After valuable mineral deposits are discovered, the population of a geographic region booms then levels off and begins to decrease at a slow and steady pace. X
(E) The variety of styles stocked by a shoe store increases rapidly after the store opens, holds constant for many months, and then gradually creeps upward. CORRECT. The pattern is increase > decrease > steady increase

3. The author suggests which one of the following about the Cretaceous crisis?

(A) It was the second most devastating extinction episode in history. X
(B) It was the most devastating extinction episode up until that time. X
(C) It was less devastating to species diversity than is the current biodiversity crisis. X
(D) The rate of extinction among marine animal species as a result of the crisis did not approach 77 percent. X
(E) The dinosaurs comprised the great majority of species that perished during the crisis.
CORRECT. (real tough one...not sure about this one...the way the passage is written, we are led to believe that dinosaurs did indeed (and this is true factually) make up the majority of species that perished during the crisis...that's what the crisis is known for...if someone else superseded the dinosaurs, then that would have been made clear, but the emphasis was on...DINOSAURS

4. The author mentions the Nile perch in order to provide an example of

(A) a species that has become extinct through human activity X
-near extinction is not the same as full out extinction
(B) the typical lack of foresight that has led to biogeographic disaster CORRECT. We didn't expect the near extinction would be.a consequence of introducing an invasive species
(C) a marine animal species that survived the Permian extinctions X
-wrong paragraph
(D) a species that is a potential source of material wealth X
-never mentioned
(E) the kind of action that is necessary to reverse the decline in species diversity X
-never mentioned

5. All of the following are explicitly mentioned in the passage as contributing to the extinction of species EXCEPT

(A) hunting X
(B) pollution CORRECT
(C) deforestation X
(D) the growth of human populations X
(E) human-engineered changes in the environment X (This was mentioned in paragraph 1 for those looking)

6. The passage suggests which one of the following about material and cultural wealth?

(A) Because we can readily assess the value of material and cultural wealth, we tend not to take them for granted. CORRECT. Last paragraph suggests that we take biological wealth for granted because we don't interact with it day-to-day (like we do with material and cultural wealth)
(B) Just as the biota is a source of potential material wealth, it is an untapped source of cultural wealth as well. X
-huh? never mentioned
(C) Some degree of material and cultural wealth may have to be sacrificed if we are to protect our biological heritage. X
-huh? never mentioned
(D) Material and cultural wealth are of less value than biological wealth because they have evolved over a shorter period of time. X
-huh? never mentioned
(E) Material wealth and biological wealth are interdependent in a way that material wealth and cultural wealth are not. X
-huh? never mentioned


7. The author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about the consequences of the biodiversity crisis?

(A) The loss of species diversity will have as immediate an impact on the material of nations as on their biological wealth. X
-we don't know anything about the speed at which the impact will occur
(B) The crisis will likely end the hegemony of the human race and bring about the ascendancy of another species. X
-improbable...never mentioned anyway
(C) The effects of the loss of species diversity will be dire, but we cannot yet tell how dire. CORRECT
(D) It is more fruitful to discuss the consequences of the crisis in terms of the potential loss to humanity than in strictly biological loss to humanity than in strictly biological terms. X
-???
(E) The consequences of the crisis can be minimized, but the pace of extinctions can not be reversed. X
-extreme answer alert

How come C is wrong?. In the first paragraph, author clearly states that " as human populations expand and alter the natural environment, they are reducing biological diversity to its lowest level since the end of the Mesozoic era, 65 million years ago"?

Which question are you referring to?