Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over globa

Question

Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over global warming, most scientists now agree that human activity is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Though predictions vary, many global warming experts believe that average global temperatures will rise between three and eight degrees Fahrenheit during the next century. Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines.

Which of the following is an assumption in support of the argument’s conclusion?

(A) New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.

(B) Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

(C) Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers.

(D) Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures during the next century.

(E) Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.

This question is part of the  GMAT Club Critical Reasoning : Assumption" Revision Project.

fruit · Accepted Answer

I thought that A is out of scope. In assumption questions we should use just given info, isn't it?

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The argument concludes that rising sea levels caused by global warming will destroy major coastal population centers and displace millions of people. Any assumption in support of this conclusion would have to corroborate that these events will definitively take place.

(A) CORRECT.  If new technological developments in the next century allow people to divert rising seas from the world’s cities (i.e., population centers), cities will not be destroyed and millions of people will not be displaced. Thus, a necessary assumption is that these technologies will not be developed.

(B) A simple awareness of the steps to reduce emissions in no way undermines the argument’s conclusion, as this answer choice does not describe any action being taken by individuals. Additionally, greenhouse gases are never mentioned as the primary by-product of human activity that causes global warming, and are therefore not sufficient to address the argument.

(C) The argument never suggests that all coastal population centers are similarly affected; this choice is too extreme and overreaching for the argument’s conclusion.

(D) This might be true, but it is not an assumption on which the conclusion rests. Instead, this answer choice is simply an inference that might be drawn from the premises.

(E) The idea that human activity is the sole cause of global warming is neither suggested nor assumed by the argument. In addition, the wording "sole cause" is too extreme.

hao922 · Answer

Yes, you should only use information given in the passage. But, the assumption given in the answer choice is the information additional to what has already been given in the passage. And you have to use this external information as an assumption to draw the conclusion.

I also made the mistake in this question. I chose B in the first place. It cannot be B since it does not say in the passage that Green House Gases are the main contributors to the temperature rise. I used external information and the answer I got was wrong.

fluke · Answer

Ans: "A"

amit2k9 · Answer

Negating A clearly crashes the conclusion about problems encountered at the coastal areas.

A it is.

chetan2u · Answer

Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over global warming, most scientists now agree that human activity is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Though predictions vary, many global warming experts believe that average global temperatures will rise between three and eight degrees Fahrenheit during the next century. Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines. Which of the following is an assumption in support of the argument’s conclusion?

• New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.
 this is an asssumption which is directly affecting conclusion.. so correct 
• Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
 a very close second. it is truly an assumption but if we look closely. it does not support conclusion but supports the prediction...  
• Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers.
 no role in supporting.. 
• Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures
during the next century.
 out of scope 
• Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.
 out of scope..

AryamaDuttaSaikia · Answer

The argument states that global warming will lead to an increase in temperature which will eventually raise the sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population hubs along the coastlines. The author assumes that people have to be relocated and there are no means to combat the situation. "A" rightly states the assumption. If "A" is reversed that is "Technological developments will divert the seas" then it goes against the conclusion.Hence that is the assumption.

DeepikaV · Answer

hi,

as this is the cause and effect question. human activity ----->rise in earth temp----> rise in sea level----->coastal cities and people get displaced.

in cause and effect question.1.) cause comes before effect 2.) no alternate cause for the effect.
so, option E, which states human activity is the 'sole reason' is what i thought the correct answer due to above reasons.Please explain.

abhimahna · Answer

I think you have not understood the argument properly. The argument concluded that the rising sea level will displace millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines. So, Assumption could be something that says people don't have a way to save themselves or something that says these people are not the part of the whole problem, hence killing them is not going to help us. Option E is saying Humans are the sole reason. What if they are not the sole reason? In that case also they are still a problem and displacing that would help us. So, this cannot be an assumption. If I talk about option A, we are given "New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.". It means we don't have a way to save those people. Hence, this point lies inline with what we thought. I hope that makes sense. P.S: Sorry, I saw your post after 1 year otherwise I would have replied on time. :-D

chesstitans · Answer

this is so unbelievable, the lesson here is to recognize the pattern and try not to pay attention to outside knowledge. Clearly, test takers have to assume that there is a technology to prevent catastrophe in the conclusion of the argument.

abhimahna · Answer

That's the beauty of this question.

The author said an increase in temperature would displace people. That means he is assuming that we cannot save them anyhow. This is what option A is doing. It says even we have some sort of technological improvement, we cannot save them. Hence, it strengthens author's conclusion. I know rejecting A because it seems to provide an outside knowledge could be our first step. But my friend, be careful.

subrataroy0210 · Answer

Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over global warming, most scientists now agree that human activity is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Though predictions vary, many global warming experts believe that average global temperatures will rise between three and eight degrees Fahrenheit during the next century. Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines.

Conclusion: Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines.

Falsification: 
1) What if this increase in the sea levels could be checked?
2) What if this global temperature does not increase because of the counterbalancing effect of some other natural phenomenon?

Possible Assumption:
1) There’s no way the increase in the sea level or increase in the global temperature could be checked.
 
Which of the following is an assumption in support of the argument’s conclusion?

A. New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.
 Negate: New technological developments in the next century will divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities
If the technological developments in the next century can do that, then we will be able to break the conclusion. Thus, this option has the potential to be a prospective assumption.

B. Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
 Negate: Individuals will become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases
Even if the emission of the greenhouse gases is reduced, we do not know, within the scope of the argument, whether the event will have a positive or negative effect on the problems and whether the effect will be significant or not.

C. Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers.
 Out of scope.

D. Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures during the next century.
 Negate: No global warming experts predict a greater than eight-degree fah increase in the global temperature during the next century. 
Doesn’t matter. The range mentioned in the argument is enough for the dooms days.

E. Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.
 Negate: Human activity is not the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.
There may be some other factors, say X. But, this new information does not break the conclusion.

gmatexam439 · Answer

Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over global warming, most scientists now agree that human activity is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Though predictions vary, many global warming experts believe that average global temperatures will rise between three and eight degrees Fahrenheit during the next century. Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world’s coastlines.

Which of the following is an assumption in support of the argument’s conclusion?

A. New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities. - Correct. If the seas won't be diverted then coastlines will be impacted. 
B. Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. - Even if people become aware, the green house gases emission won't completely stop. Plus there are many ways in which global temperature can rise. Out of scope. 
C. Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers. - Okay. out of scope. 
D. Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures during the next century. - degree of increase in temperature is out of scope 
E. Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures. - this is an extreme statement

Timebomb · Answer

I have doubts on this question.

The author is saying that because some researchers believe that there will be rise in temperature, there will actually be a rise in sea level and sinking of the costal cities. There is a big leap between saying what some researchers believe and then happening of what author is predicting would happen.

Should'nt the assumption address this gap?

Option A inherently assumes that the gap between prediction of researchers and happening of subsequent events is fulfilled.

Please help!!
 chetan2u

mk96 · Answer

A_Nishith · Answer

The conclusion of the argument is that a rise in global temperatures will cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying major population centers along the world's coastlines. 
The correct answer will be an assumption that must hold true for this conclusion to be valid.

Let’s examine each option to identify the assumption:

(A) New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.
 This is an assumption that must be true for the conclusion to be valid. If new technology could divert rising seas, then the displacement of millions of people could be avoided, undermining the conclusion. Since the argument assumes no such technology will be developed, this is a necessary assumption.

(B) Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
While this might be relevant to the cause of global warming, it is not an assumption that directly supports the conclusion about the rise in sea levels and displacement of people. The argument is focused on the effects of rising temperatures, not whether awareness will increase.

(C) Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers.
This assumption is not necessary for the conclusion. The argument can still hold if rising sea levels affect some, but not all, coastal cities, as long as a significant number of population centers are affected. Therefore, this is not a required assumption.

(D) Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight-degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures during the next century.
This statement adds additional information about predictions, but it is not essential to the argument. The conclusion is based on a range of predictions (3 to 8 degrees), and this option is irrelevant to that specific range.

(E) Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.
The argument assumes that human activity is a cause of global warming but does not necessarily assume that it is the sole cause. The conclusion can still hold even if there are other contributing factors. Thus, this is not a necessary assumption.

Answer: 
 (A)  New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.

This is the assumption that must be true for the conclusion about rising sea levels displacing millions of people to hold.

VerbalBot · Answer

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