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All correct in 14 mins 45 seconds, including 5 mins 30 seconds to read.

5. Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the situation described by the author as one of nature's great ironies?
(C) That of shipwrecked sailors at sea in a lifeboat, with one flask of drinking water to share among them - Correct; I am reminded of a line from a poem 'water water everywhere not a drop to drink'

Great explanation for q5. I was looking for an answer saying something like: someone is finding important something that is abundant but can't be taken advantage. Couldn't see through choice C like you, the "sea" there is also water but no one can drink.
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Thank You , Great explanation for question 3 and really a tricky one.

For the last one I chose the intercropping as I kind of felt that mutual benefit idea is somewhat relatable.


auradediligodo
Hi everyone,
Got 7/8 correct here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


P1

The author starts with presenting 2 developments related to nitrogen fixation. Then the author proceeds by describing the 2 elements (increase in price for nitrogen fertilizer and genetic engineering) and in the end she gives a couple of examples of what genetic engineering could do.

Purpose: To present and describe 2 developments related to nitrogen fixation with some examples



P2

Here the author describes more in detail nitrogen fixation and it explains that plants' growth is dependent on the quantity of nitrogen present in the soil. Plus it is mentioned that it is ironic that the abundant quantity of nitrogen present in the air cannot be used. then the author proceeds by presenting a category of plant that found a solution to the nitrogen problem. Such plants establish a relationship with the enzyme R, an enzyme that produces ammonia and that can give some to the plants.

Purpose: The purpose of this paragraph is to explain what nitrogen fixation is, to highlight a problem related to it and to give a example of a category of plant that overcame such problem.



P3

In the last paragraph we are given that most of the plants are not able to overcome the problem in the same way as the plants discussed in the previous paragraph. Then the author proceeds by mentioning the great gains that such plants had in the past because of the fertilizers and that scientists must find a way to enhance the current symbiotic relationships in order not to loose such gains. Lastly the author claims that such task seems almost impossible but that it is worth trying.

Purpose: The purpose of this paragraph is to claim that the majority of plants cannot overcome the problem previously mentioned and that scientists must face a difficult but worthy challenge in trying to enhance the current Relationships in such plants.


Main point

The purpose of this passage is to consider possible solutions to the nitrogen fixation problems, starting from two recent developments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

Pre-thinking

Main point question

The purpose of this passage is to consider possible solutions to the nitrogen fixation problems, starting from two recent developments.


(A) expose the fragile nature of the foundations on which the high yields of modern agriculture rest
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) argue that genetic engineering promises to lead to even higher yields than are achievable with synthetic fertilizers
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) argue that the capacity for nitrogen-fixing symbioses is transferable to nonleguminous plants
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) explain the reasons for and the objectives of current research on nitrogen-fixing symbioses
in line with pre-thinking

(E) describe the nature of the genes that regulate the symbiosis between legumes and certain bacteria
Not in line with pre-thinking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



2. According to the passage, there is currently no strain of Rhizobium that can enter into a symbiosis with

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From last paragraph:"Unfortunately, most of the major food crops - including maize, wheat, rice, and potatoes - cannot. "


(A) alfalfa
Incorrect

(B) clover
Incorrect

(C) maize
In line with pre-thinking

(D) peas
Incorrect

(E) soybeans
Incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


3. The passage implies that which of the following is true of the bacterial genus Rhizobium?

Pre-thinking

Assumption question

Here is the portion of P2 where Rhizobium is mentioned:"with the bacterial genus Rhizobium; as a matter of fact, there is a specific strain of Rhizobium for each species of legume. The host plant supplies the bacteria with food and protected habitat and receives surplus ammonia in exchange. "


(A) Rhizobium bacteria are found primarily in nitrogen-depleted soils.
Not a must be true statement

(B) Some strains of Rhizobium are not capable of entering into a symbiosis with any plant.
Too extreme and not a must be true statement

(C) Newly bred varieties of legumes cannot be hosts to any strain of Rhizobium.
Not a must be true statement

(D) Rhizobium bacteria cannot survive outside the protected habitat provided by host plants.
Not a must be true statement

(E) Rhizobium bacteria produce some ammonia for their own purposes.
Yes, the author mentions that the bacteria R gives to the hot plant the surplus of the ammonia produced. Hence the argument is assuming that the bacteria produces ammonia for other purposes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


4. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following was the most influential factor in bringing about intensified research on nitrogen fixation?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

From the first paragraph: "The one development has been the rapid, sustained increase in the price of nitrogen fertilizer."

And

"Fertilizer prices, largely tied to the price of natural gas, "


(A) The high yields of the Green Revolution
Irrelevant

(B) The persistent upward surge in natural gas prices
Since fertilizers' prices are relate to the gas prices, we can infer that while the gas prices increase also the fertilizers prices increase

(C) The variety of Rhizobium strains
Irrelevant

(D) The mechanization of modern agriculture
Irrelevant

(E) The environmental ill effects of synthetic fertilizers
Irrelevant

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


5. Which of the following situations is most closely analogous to the situation described by the author as one of nature's great ironies?

Pre-thinking

Analogous statement question

Here is the situation from P2: " It is one of nature's great ironies that the availability of nitrogen in the soil frequently sets an upper limit on plant growth even though the plants' leave are bathed in a sea of nitrogen gas. ".

Basically we have an object (the plant) that needs a certain element to thrive (nitrogen) but that is surrounded by tons of a similar element that cannot be used and that at the same time has little of the useful element to use (nitrogen in the soil).


(A) That of a fanner whose crops have failed because the normal midseason rains did not materialize and no preparations for irrigation had been made
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) That of a long-distance runner who loses a marathon race because of a wrong turn that cost him twenty seconds
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) That of shipwrecked sailors at sea in a lifeboat, with one flask of drinking water to share among them
correct. Sailors have tons of water that cannot be drunk but little of water that they can actually drink.

(D) That of a motorist who runs out of gas a mere five miles from the nearest gas station .
[b]Not in line with pre-thinking[/b]

(E) That of travelers who want to reach their destination as fast and as cheaply as possible, but find that cost increases as travel speed increases
Not in line with pre-thinking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


6. According to the passage, the ultimate goal of the current research on nitrogen fixation is to develop

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From last paragraph: " they must work on enhancing fixation within the existing symbioses. "


(A) strains of Rhizobium that can enter into symbioses with existing varieties of wheat,rice, and other nonlegumes
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) strains of Rhizobium that produce more ammonia for leguminous host plants than do any of the strains presently known
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) varieties of wheat, rice, and other nonlegumes that yield as much as do existing varieties, but require less nitrogen
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) varieties of wheat, rice, and other nonlegumes that maintain an adequate symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and produce high yields
Correct

(E) high-yielding varieties of wheat, rice, and other nonlegumes that are genetically equipped to fix nitrogen from the air without the aid of bacteria
Not in line with pre-thinking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


. The author regards the research program under discussion as

Pre-thinking

Inference question

From last paragraph: "The overall task looks forbidding, but the stakes are too high not to undertake it."


(A) original and extensive but ill-defined as to method
Incorrect

(B) necessary and ambitious but vulnerable to failure
In line with pre-thinking

(C) cogent and worthwhile but severely underfunded
Incorrect

(D) prohibitively expensive but conceptually elegant
Incorrect

(E) theoretically fascinating but practically useless
Incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



8. Most nearly parallel, in its fundamental approach, to the research program described in the passage would be a program designed to

Pre-thinking

Parallel situation question

Basically we are asked to find a program that aims at strengthening one feature already existing in an object to increase the yields of such object


(A) achieve greater frost resistance in frost-tender food plants by means of selective breeding, thereby expanding those plants' area of cultivation
The passage does not aim at expanding the area of cultivation

(B) achieve greater yields from food plants by interplanting crop plants that are mutually beneficial
Inconsistent

(C) find inexpensive and abundant natural substances that could, without reducing yields, be substituted for expensive synthetic fertilizers
Inconsistent

(D) change the genetic makeup of food plants that cannot live in water with high salinity, using genes from plants adapted to saltwater
I don't particularly agree with the second part of this answer as in the last paragraph it is mentioned that scientists must work on the existing symbioses

(E) develop, through genetic engineering, a genetic configuration for the major food plants that improve the storage characteristics of the edible portion of the plants
Inconsistent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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I doubt the answer for Q3. We cannot infer option E this to be exact. Maybe the bacteria produces it but not for its own use ; Maybe it just produces it as a excreta or left over waste material.
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I doubt the answer for Q3. We cannot infer option E this to be exact. Maybe the bacteria produces it but not for its own use ; Maybe it just produces it as a excreta or left over waste material.


Hi Jks3000,

Quote:
(E) Rhizobium bacteria produce some ammonia for their own purposes.

Lines to refer in the passage: "The host plant supplies the bacteria with food and protected habitat and receives surplus ammonia in exchange."

Surplus implies excess of something, after the demand of that particular thing has been met. Thus, Rhizobium bacteria producing surplus ammonia would imply that Rhizobium bacteria did use some of ammonia for its own purpose.


Hope This Helps.
Thanks.
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