The term " Ice Age" may give the wrong impression. The epoch that

Question

The term " Ice Age" may give the  wrong impression . The epoch that geologists know as the Pleistocene and that spanned the 1.5 to 2.0 million years prior to the current geologic epoch was not one long continuous glaciation, but a peri?d of oscillating climate with ice advances punctuated by times of interglacial climate not very different from the climate experienced now. Ice sheets that derived from an ice cap centered on northern Scandinavia reached southward to Central Europe. And beyond the margins of the ice sheets, climatic oscillations affected most of the rest of the world; for example, in the deserts, periods of wetter conditions (pluvials) contrasted with drier, interpluvial periods. Although the time involved is so short, about 0.04 percent of the total age of the Earth, the amount of attention devoted to the Pleistocene has been incredibly large, probably because of its immediacy, and because the epoch largely coincides with the appearance on Earth of humans and their immediate ancestors.

There is no reliable way of dating much of the Ice Age. Geological dates are usually obtained by using the rates of decay of various radioactive elements found in minerals. Some of these rates are suitable for very old rocks but involve increasing errors when used for young rocks; others are suitable for very young rocks and errors increase rapidly in older rocks. Most of the Ice Age spans a period of time for which no element has an appropriate decay rate.

Nevertheless, researchers of the Pleistocene epoch have developed all sorts of more or less fanciful model schemes of how they would have arranged the Ice Age had they been in charge of events. For example,  an early classification of Alpine glaciation  suggested the existence there of four glaciations, named the Giinz, Mindel, Riss, and Wurm. This succession was based primarily on a series of deposits and events not directly related to glacial and interglacial periods, rather than on the more usual modern method of studying biological remains found in interglacial beds themselves interstratified within glacial deposits. Yet this succession was forced willy-nilly onto the glaciated parts of Northern Europe, where there are partial successions of true glacial ground moraines and interglacial deposits, with hopes of ultimately piecing them together to provide a complete Pleistocene succession. Eradication of the Alpine nomenclature is still proving a Herculean task.

There is no conclusive evidence about the relative length. complexity, and temperatures of the various glacial and interglacial periods. We do not know whether we live in a postglacial period or an interglacial period. The chill truth seems to be that we are already past the optimum climate of postglacial time. Studies of certain fossil distributions and of the pollen of certain temperate plants suggest decreases of a degree or two in both summer and winter temperatures and, therefore, that we may be in the declining climatic phase leading to glaciation and extinction.    1 
 B 
 1. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with

(A) searching for an accurate method of dating the Pleistocene epoch
(B) discussing problems involved in providing an accurate picture of the Pleistocene epoch
(C) declaring opposition to the use of the term "Ice Age" for the Pleistocene epoch
(D) criticizing fanciful schemes about what happened in the Pleistocene epoch
(E) refuting-'the idea that there is no way to tell if we are now living in an Ice Age

2 
 D 
 2. The " wrong impression " to which the author refers is the idea that the

(A) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was not very different from the climate we are now experiencing
(B) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was composed of periods of violent storms
(C) Pleistocene epoch consisted of very wet, cold periods mixed with very dry, hot periods
(D) Pleistocene epoch comprised one period of continuous glaciation during which Northern Europe was covered with ice sheets
(E) Pleistocene epoch had no long periods during which much of the Earth was covered by ice

3 
 A 
 3. According to the passage, one of the reasons for the deficiencies of the " early classification of Alpine glaciation " is that it was

(A) derived from evidence that was only tangentially related to times of actual glaciation 
(B) based primarily on fossil remains rather than on actual living organisms 
(C) an abstract, imaginative scheme of how the period might have been structured 
(D) based on unmethodical examinations of randomly chosen glacial biological remains 
(E) derived from evidence that had been haphazardly gathered from glacial deposits and inaccurately evaluated

4 
 A 
 4. Which of the following does the passage imply about the " early classification of Alpine glaciation " (lines 32-33)?

(A) It should not have been applied as widely as it was. 
(B) It represents the best possible scientific practice, given the tools available at the time. 
(C) It was a valuable tool, in its time, for measuring the length of the four periods of glaciation. 
(D) It could be useful, but only as a general guide to the events of the Pleistocene epoch. 
(E) It does not shed any light on the methods used at the time for investigating periods of glaciation.

5 
 B 
 5. It can be inferred from the passage that an important result of producing an accurate chronology of events of the Pleistocene epoch would be a

(A) clearer idea of the origin of the Earth 
(B) clearer picture of the Earth during the time that humans developed 
(C) clearer understanding of the reasons for the existence of deserts 
(D) more detailed understanding of how radioactive dating of minerals works 
(E) firmer understanding of how the northern polar ice cap developed

6 
 C 
 6. The author refers to deserts primarily in order to

(A) illustrate the idea that an interglacial climate is marked by oscillations of wet and dry periods 
(B) illustrate the idea that what happened in the deserts during the Ice Age had far-reaching effects even on the ice sheets of Central and Northern Europe 
(C) illustrate the idea that the effects of the Ice Age's climatic variations extended beyond the areas of ice 
(D) support the view that during the Ice Age sheets of ice covered some of the deserts of the world 
(E) support the view that we are probably living in a postglacial period

7 
 D 
 7. The author would regard the idea that we are living in an interglacial period as

(A) unimportant 
(B) unscientific 
(C) self-evident 
(D) plausible 
(E) absurd

auradediligodo · Accepted Answer

Hi everyone,
Got 5/7 correct in 12:30 minutes, including 6 minutes to read.

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P1

Paragraph one tries to clarify a misconception about the ice age. Usually people think that there was one long period in which the earth was characterized by glaciations but in reality there were different glaciations and in between the climate was very similar to the one we are currently experiencing. Plus the effects of the ice age affected also the part of the earth that were not subjected to such glaciations. An example is the desert that was subject to dry and wet periods.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to clarify a misconception about the ice age and to explain what this age really represented.

P2

In this paragraph the author highlights the problem related with dating the ice age. We are given that usually the rate of decay of radioactive elements is used to obtain dates but in the ice age the rate of decay of such elements is not very accurate.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to highlight a problem related with dating the ice age and explain why such problem exists

P3

In this paragraph we are given that, even though dating was a problem, the people who studied the ice age created ways to date such period. We are given one easy approach and th author states that such approach is not very valid and that it was mistakenly used for other purposes.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to underscore the existence of probably biased way of dating the ice age and to give an example

P4

In paragraph 4 the author highlights the fact that we still have not conclusive proofs about the ice age. As a matter of fact we could be between one glaciation and its subsequent glaciation. Also there are some studies that suggest that temperatures are decreasing and a new glaciation is about to come.

Purpose:   The purpose of this paragraph is to underscore the inconclusiveness of the evidence available and to hypothesize that we might be in between one glaciation and the subsequent one.

Main point

The main point is to clarify what the ice age actually is, evaluate studies related to dating of such period and conclude that we don't have sufficient evidence to define the ice age completely.

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1. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with

Pre-thinking

Main point question

The main point is to clarify what the ice age actually is, evaluate studies related to dating of such period and conclude that we don't have sufficient evidence to define the ice age completely.

(A) searching for an accurate method of dating the Pleistocene epoch
 Out of scope

(B)   discussing problems involved in providing an accurate picture of the Pleistocene epoch
 In line with pre-thinking

(C) declaring opposition to the use of the term "Ice Age" for the Pleistocene epoch
 Partial scope

(D) criticizing fanciful schemes about what happened in the Pleistocene epoch
 Out of scope

(E) refuting-'the idea that there is no way to tell if we are now living in an Ice Age
 Out of scope

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2. The "wrong impression" to which the author refers is the idea that the

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From P1: "   The epoch that geologists know as the Pleistocene   and that spanned the 1.5 to 2.0 million years prior to the current geologic epoch   was not one long continuous glaciation,   but a peri?d of oscillating climate with ice advances punctuated by times of interglacial climate not very different from the climate experienced now."

(A) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was not very different from the climate we are now experiencing
 irrelevant

(B) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was composed of periods of violent storms
 out of context

(C) Pleistocene epoch consisted of very wet, cold periods mixed with very dry, hot periods
 out of context

(D)   Pleistocene epoch comprised one period of continuous glaciation during which Northern Europe was covered with ice sheets
 In line with pre-thinking

(E) Pleistocene epoch had no long periods during which much of the Earth was covered by ice
 out of scope

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3. According to the passage, one of the reasons for the deficiencies of the "early classification of Alpine glaciation" is that it was

Pre-thinking

Detail question  
 
From P3:  "This succession was based primarily on a series of deposits and events   not directly related to glacial and interglacial periods  , rather than on the more usual modern method of studying biological remains found in interglacial beds themselves interstratified within glacial deposits. "

(A)   derived from evidence that was only tangentially related to times of actual glaciation 
 In line with pre-thinking

(B) based primarily on fossil remains rather than on actual living organisms 
 Irrelevant

(C) an abstract, imaginative scheme of how the period might have been structured 
 Not flaw

(D) based on unmethodical examinations of  randomly  chosen glacial biological remains 
 Never mentioned

(E) derived from evidence that had been haphazardly gathered from glacial deposits and inaccurately evaluated 
 Never mentioned

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4. Which of the following does the passage imply about the "early classification of Alpine glaciation" (lines 32-33)?

Pre-thinking

Assumption question

An assumption made by the author is that   the succession of glaciations derived from such classification is not completely correct

(A)   It should not have been applied as widely as it was. 
 Good candidate

(B) It represents the  best  possible scientific practice, given the tools available at the time. 
 too extreme

(C) It was a valuable tool, in its time, for measuring the length of the four periods of glaciation. 
 nowhere we are given such evaluation by the author

(D) It could be useful, but only as a general guide to the events of the Pleistocene epoch. 
 out of scope

(E) It does not shed any light on the methods used at the time for investigating periods of glaciation. 
 out of scope

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5. It can be inferred from the passage that an important result of producing an accurate chronology of events of the Pleistocene epoch would be a

Pre-thinking

Inference question

From P4: " There is no conclusive evidence about the relative length. complexity, and temperatures of the various glacial and interglacial periods."  Knowing one of these elements for sure would help.

(A) clearer idea of the origin of the Earth 
 The origin of the earth is not discussed

(B)   clearer picture of the Earth during the time that humans developed 
 From P1: " Although the time involved is so short, about 0.04 percent of the total age of the Earth, the amount of attention devoted to the Pleistocene has been incredibly large, probably because of its immediacy, and because the epoch largely coincides with the appearance on Earth of humans and their immediate ancestors. "

We are given that dating represents a problem and that the appearance of humans occurred during the ice age. It is not clearly given that knowing the time period in which humans appeared is relevant but common sense says that it would be a great achievement.  SajjadAhmad  do you think that is it okay sometimes to use common sense or did I miss some connexion in the past between human appearance and relevance?

(C) clearer understanding of the reasons for the existence of deserts 
 Out of scope

(D) more detailed understanding of how radioactive dating of minerals works 
 Yhis option tells us about the how aspect but we are concerned with what happens after having such understanding

(E) firmer understanding of how the northern polar ice cap developed 
 out of scope

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6. The author refers to deserts primarily in order to

Pre-thinking

Function question

FromP1.  " And beyond the margins of the ice sheets, climatic oscillations affected most of the rest of the world; for example, in the deserts,"

(A) illustrate the idea that an interglacial climate is marked by oscillations of wet and dry periods 
 Out of scope

(B) illustrate the idea that what happened in the deserts during the Ice Age had far-reaching effects even on the ice sheets of Central and Northern Europe 
 Out of scope

(C)   illustrate the idea that the effects of the Ice Age's climatic variations extended beyond the areas of ice 
 In line with pre-thinking

(D) support the view that during the Ice Age sheets of ice covered some of the deserts of the world 
 Out of scope

(E) support the view that we are probably living in a postglacial period 
 Out of scope

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7. The author would regard the idea that we are living in an interglacial period as

Pre-thinking

Inference question

In the last paragraph the author talks about some studies suggesting that we might live in a interglacial period. Hence the author considers this idea possible.

(A) unimportant 
 Incorrect

(B) unscientific 
 Incorrect

(C) self-evident 
 Incorrect

(D)   plausible 
 In line with pre-thinking

(E) absurd 
 Incorrect

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It is a good day to be alive!

deepverma · Answer

Summary of Passage: Author started with questioning 'ice age" definition; also mention comparison bw current climate and ice age.Also relation of ice age and human existence. Author explained various methods used in finding "ice age" in Pleistocene epoch and then why those are inaccurate methods. 
lastly author reasoned out that we r in interglacial periods , out of postglacials and interglacial periods..

7. The author would regard the idea that we are living in an interglacial period as : Refer last Para " The chill truth..."

(A) unimportant
(B) unscientific
(C) self-evident
 (D) plausible : correct 
(E) absurd :

6. The author refers to deserts primarily in order to : REfer to PAra 1 " And beyond the margins of the ice sheets, climatic oscillations affected most of the rest of the world;"
(A) illustrate the idea that an interglacial climate is marked by oscillations of wet and dry periods
(B) illustrate the idea that what happened in the deserts during the Ice Age had far-reaching effects even on the ice sheets of Central and Northern Europe
 (C) illustrate the idea that the effects of the Ice Age's climatic variations extended beyond the areas of ice : Correct 
(D) support the view that during the Ice Age sheets of ice covered some of the deserts of the world
(E) support the view that we are probably living in a postglacial period
5. It can be inferred from the passage that an important result of producing an accurate chronology of events of the Pleistocene epoch would be a
Refer PAra 1:
" the amount of attention devoted to the Pleistocene has been incredibly large, probably because of its immediacy, and because the epoch largely coincides with the appearance on Earth of humans and their immediate ancestors"
(A) clearer idea of the origin of the Earth
 (B) clearer picture of the Earth during the time that humans developed : Correct 
(C) clearer understanding of the reasons for the existence of deserts
(D) more detailed understanding of how radioactive dating of minerals works
(E) firmer understanding of how the northern polar ice cap developed
4. Which of the following does the passage imply about the "early classification of Alpine glaciation" (lines 32-33)?
Answer: This is a critic statement. So eleminate b,c ;Also lines from para 3 " Yet this succession was forced willy-nilly onto the glaciated parts of Northern Europe, where there are partial successions of true glacial ground moraines and interglacial deposits, with hopes of ultimately piecing them together to provide a complete Pleistocene succession."
 (A) It should not have been applied as widely as it was. Correct 
(B) It represents the best possible scientific practice, given the tools available at the time.
(C) It was a valuable tool, in its time, for measuring the length of the four periods of glaciation.
(D) It could be useful, but only as a general guide to the events of the Pleistocene epoch. not mentioned
(E) It does not shed any light on the methods used at the time for investigating periods of glaciation. not mentioned

3. According to the passage, one of the  reasons  for the deficiencies of the "early classification of Alpine glaciation" is that it was
Answer: read few lines below " This succession was based primarily on a series of deposits and events  not directly  related to glacial and interglacial periods, "
 (A) derived from evidence that was only tangentially related to times of actual glaciation :Correct
(B) based primarily on fossil remains rather than on actual living organisms
(C) an abstract, imaginative scheme of how the period might have been structured
(D) based on unmethodical examinations of randomly chosen glacial biological remains
 (E)  derived from evidence that had been haphazardly gathered from glacial deposits and inaccurately evaluated : Very close option, this is mentioned in end of para 3 but not the REASON.

2. The "wrong impression" to which the author refers is the idea that the
Aswer: PAra1 lines "was not one long continuous glaciation, but a peri?d of oscillating climate with ice advances punctuated by times of interglacial climate "
(A) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was not very different from the climate we are now experiencing
(B) climate of the Pleistocene epoch was composed of periods of violent storms
(C) Pleistocene epoch consisted of very wet, cold periods mixed with very dry, hot periods
 (D) Pleistocene epoch comprised one period of continuous glaciation during which Northern Europe was covered with ice sheets : correct 
(E) Pleistocene epoch had no long periods during which much of the Earth was covered by ice
1. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with :

(A) searching for an accurate method of dating the Pleistocene epoch : Not primary concern
 (B) discussing problems involved in providing an accurate picture of the Pleistocene epoch :Correct 
(C) declaring opposition to the use of the term "Ice Age" for the Pleistocene epoch :Not mentioed
(D) criticizing fanciful schemes about what happened in the Pleistocene epoch : Para 3 ,True but not primary concern
(E) refuting-'the idea that there is no way to tell if we are now living in an Ice Age : indicated in last para that we r in interglacial periods; but that's not main concern

Carcass · Answer

Please leave kudo if you like.

Thank you

thinkvision · Answer

Indeed! Got 5/7 correct but took almost 18.5 mins to answer!

carcass  - Should we expect such passages on GMAT? Believe it was little longer than the one I have experienced during the actual exam.

Carcass · Answer

Could be. We cannot make any assumptions. We must be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

This is back up by the last OG advanced questions: the very first passage, which is long, has 45 lines just ten few lines than this one and 6 questions. Here we do have 7

So, as you can see pretty close, pretty close

Akhil5495 · Answer

Hi, Can someone help with the last 2 questions?

For Q6 - "And
beyond the margins of the ice sheets,  climatic oscillations 
affected most of the rest of the world"

However, in the answer choice:
illustrate the idea that the  effect  of the Ice
Age's climatic variations extended beyond the
areas of ice.

Where in the passage is it stated that the oscillation was a direct effect of the ice sheet?

For Q7
" We do not know 
whether we live in a postglacial period or an interglacial
period. The chill truth seems to be that we are already
past the optimum climate of postglacial time"

The first line made me pick E (absurd) as the answer, I'm not sure how this is D (plausible)?
Is it because of the next line which rules out postglacial time? Even if it does rule out post glacial, doesn't necessarily mean it  must be interglacial

The term " Ice Age" may give the wrong impression. The epoch that

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The term " Ice Age" may give the wrong impression. The epoch that

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

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