Earths mantle lies below the crust and above the core. Scientists can

Question

Earth’s mantle lies below the crust and above the core. Scientists cannot examine the mantle directly but have inferred its structure by measuring how seismic waves from earthquakes are distorted as they traverse it. In laboratory experiments, researchers have also studied mineral formation at the high pressures and temperatures in the mantle. These measurements and experiments indicate that the mantle consists of several concentric layers, with different minerals predominating at different depths. As pressures and temperatures increase toward the core, they force the elements to rearrange into new crystal structures, forming different minerals.

Until 2004, scientists believed that the lower mantle was fairly uniformly composed of a dense form of magnesium silicate belonging to a family of crystals called perovskite that extended all the way down to the boundary between the mantle and the core. But seismic measurements revealed the lower mantle’s bottommost layer to be substantially denser than the rest. Since magnesium silicate perovskite has a tightly packed geometry that seemed to maximize the mass per unit volume, the higher pressures in this bottommost layer were not expected to change the perovskite’s geometry. Thus, scientists assumed that a greater abundance of heavy elements within the crystal must explain the higher density. However, this assumption was also problematic, because convection should stir the lower mantle, mixing the layers and producing a uniform distribution of elements.

In 2004, geophysicists managed to expose magnesium silicate to the extreme pressures and temperatures of this bottommost layer, producing an unexpected new, denser crystalline structure they called postperovskite. Because postperovskite would conduct heat away from Earth’s core more rapidly than perovskite would, scientists hypothesize that the early Earth’s core must have been hotter than previously thought. This suggests that the inner core cooled enough to solidify only about one billion years ago. The solid inner core strengthens Earth’s magnetic field. This field shields the surface from radiation from space, which can cause genetic mutations and would be especially dangerous for life on land. Thus, the growing intensity of the magnetic field about one billion years ago may have first allowed life to expand from the seas onto dry land. So postperovskite's discovery may help explain the timing of developments in life’s evolution.

1. As evidence that postperovskite is present in Earth’s mantle, the passage mentions the

A. timing of developments in the evolution of life on Earth
B. different minerals predominating at different depths in the core
C. results of exposing magnesium silicate to high pressures and temperatures
D. indirectly measured temperature of Earth’s inner core
E. dangers that genetic mutations pose for life on Earth

2. According to the passage, the scientists’ hypothesis that the early Earth’s core must have been hotter than previously thought is based on

A. measurements of seismic waves from earthquakes that establish a layer of Earth’s inner core has been losing heat
B. samples of billion-year-old magnesium silicate crystals whose density is similar to that of postperovskite
C. a theoretical model demonstrating the range of temperatures in which postperovskite can be converted to perovskite
D. the presence of fossils showing that organisms were living on dry land before one billion years ago
E. differences between the heat-conduction properties of perovskite and those of postperovskite in the lower mantle

3. Based on the passage, the implications of the discovery of postperovskite most likely challenged many geophysicists' beliefs about

A. why Earth’s inner core strengthens Earth’s magnetic field
B. when the elements in Earth’s inner core first became solid
C. which elements are present in Earth’s core and mantle
D. whether crystalline magnesium silicate can form in Earth’s lower mantle
E. what causes magnesium silicate crystals to have a tightly packed geometry

4. Based on the passage, which of the following statements about perovskite is most likely true?

A. It could be transformed into postperovskite as it sinks through the mantle.
B. It may have a more tightly packed crystalline geometry than postperovskite does.
C. It has been directly observed to distort slightly when seismic waves traverse it.
D. It contains heavy elements in greater quantities than postperovskite does.
E. It might comprise several concentric layers of different minerals below the mantle.

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Show Answer Question #1

Official Answer

C

Show Answer Question #2

Official Answer

E

Show Answer Question #3

Official Answer

B

Show Answer Question #4

Official Answer

A

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sachi-in · Answer

1. As evidence that postperovskite is present in Earth’s mantle, the passage mentions the

A. timing of developments in the evolution of life on Earth  -  this is presented as a consequence not an evidience 
B. different minerals predominating at different depths in the core  -  Not used in support  of alternate hypothesis
  C. results of exposing magnesium silicate to high pressures and temperatures  -  Experiment proved that, and that evidience was used to suppot this alternate hypothesis  
D. indirectly measured temperature of Earth’s inner core  -  No such expt. conducted
E. dangers that genetic mutations pose for life on Earth  -  No it was a conclusion not evidience

2. According to the passage, the scientists’ hypothesis that the early Earth’s core must have been hotter than previously thought is based on

Passage says: Because  postperovskite would conduct heat away from Earth’s core more rapidly than perovskite would , scientists hypothesize that the early Earth’s core must have been hotter than previously thought.

Hence heat conducting capacity was responsible for this conclusion.

3. Based on the passage, the implications of the discovery of postperovskite most likely challenged many geophysicists' beliefs about

A. why Earth’s inner core strengthens Earth’s magnetic field  -  why it stengthens is not explained in passage
B. when the elements in Earth’s inner core first became solid  -  It was not challenged, belief that life formed 1M yrs ago reinforced
C. which elements are present in Earth’s core and mantle  -  Conception about element in Mantle changed , not about Core 
D. whether crystalline magnesium silicate can form in Earth’s lower mantle  -  They knew it can form ( only belief about their geometry changed )
  E. what causes magnesium silicate crystals to have a tightly packed geometry  -  Yes ! earlier they believed metals were responsible not they know it's a special type of structure / arrangement that does it

4. Based on the passage, which of the following statements about perovskite is most likely true?

A. It could be transformed into postperovskite as it sinks through the mantle.  -  probably becuase more heat and pressure may transform it
B. It may have a more tightly packed crystalline geometry than postperovskite does.  -  NO postperovskite are denser
C. It has been directly observed to distort slightly when seismic waves traverse it.  -  NO mention of wheather distortion can occur
  D. It contains heavy elements in greater quantities than postperovskite does.  -  We don't know that, the presense of metals were used to support a hypothesis which was proven wrong by the postperovskite theory, so atleast we know it's not the metals that cause the higher density hence metals may or may not be present , no expreiment conducted to prove the presense or the lack of that  
E. It might comprise several concentric layers of different minerals below the mantle. - below the mantle there is core, we don't know anything about that from passage

adconsectetur · Answer

Q3 : Based on geophysicist. only the last paragraph is the domain. 
Refer to these lines:  Because postperovskite would conduct heat away from Earth’s core more rapidly than perovskite would, scientists hypothesize that the early Earth’s core must have been hotter than previously thought. This suggests that the inner core cooled enough to solidify only about one billion years ago

previously thought" : this is the clue.

What it suggests is when it solidified.

Thus answer is about when the inner core cooled.

Hope this helps

bb · Answer

In the context of the passage, the main purpose of the first paragraph is to

A. state the main conclusion of the passage and explain the methodology by which that conclusion was inferred
B. describe the main experimental evidence supporting a conclusion stated in the second paragraph
 C. provide background information to help readers understand the discussion in the second and third paragraphs 
D. discuss a puzzling scientific observation for which the third paragraph provides a possible explanation
E. introduce the main topic of the passage and summarize the major findings discussed in the second and third paragraphs

The statement that "the higher pressures in this bottommost layer were not expected to change the perovskite's geometry" (see highlighted text) functions in the passage as

A support for a claim about magnesium silicate perovskite's tightly packed geometry
B premise supporting the claim that scientists made an incorrect assumption about the abundance of heavy elements within the perovskite
C an explanation for the fact that a certain scientific assumption was found to be problematic
D description of a prediction for which the preceding statement about magnesium silicate perovskite provides the grounds
E an experimental result on which a subsequent statement about postperovskite is intended to cast doubt

Bunuel · Answer

This question is here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/earth-s-mant ... 28023.html

inmaxime · Answer

Why is D not the right answer? In B, the hypothesis was made by scientists and not geophysicists?

inmaxime · Answer

I am asking this for question 3.

guddo · Answer

3. Based on the passage, the implications of the discovery of postperovskite most likely challenged many geophysicists' beliefs about

Before 2004, scientists thought the lower mantle was made mostly of perovskite down to the core boundary. The discovery of postperovskite changed that view and led scientists to rethink how quickly heat left Earth’s core. That, in turn, suggested that the inner core solidified much later than previously believed.  So the discovery challenged beliefs about when the inner core became solid .

A. why Earth’s inner core strengthens Earth’s magnetic field

This is not the focus. The passage says the solid inner core strengthens Earth’s magnetic field, but it does not say postperovskite changed scientists’ explanation of why that happens.

B. when the elements in Earth’s inner core first became solid

This is correct. The discovery suggested that Earth’s early core was hotter than previously thought and that the inner core cooled enough to solidify only about one billion years ago. That directly challenges earlier beliefs about the  timing  of inner-core solidification.

C. which elements are present in Earth’s core and mantle

This is not the main implication. The discovery concerned a new crystal structure of magnesium silicate, not a new set of elements in the core and mantle.

D. whether crystalline magnesium silicate can form in Earth’s lower mantle

This is incorrect. Scientists already believed magnesium silicate perovskite existed in the lower mantle. The discovery changed their view of which crystalline form existed at the bottom.

E. what causes magnesium silicate crystals to have a tightly packed geometry

This is too specific. The passage does not say the discovery changed beliefs about the cause of perovskite’s tightly packed geometry.

Answer: (B)

Earths mantle lies below the crust and above the core. Scientists can

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Earths mantle lies below the crust and above the core. Scientists can

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