Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product

Question

Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product would die if directly exposed to oxygen. The hydrogen sulfide reacts with oxygen, removing it and so preventing it from harming the bacteria. Furthermore, the hydrogen sulfide tends to kill other organisms in the area, thereby providing the bacteria with a source of food. As a result, a dense colony of these bacteria produces for itself an environment in which it can continue to thrive indefinitely.

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?

(A) A dense colony of the bacteria can indefinitely continue to produce enough hydrogen sulfide to kill other organisms in the area and to prevent oxygen from harming the bacteria

(B) The hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria kills other organisms in the area by reacting with and removing oxygen

(C) Most organisms, if killed by the hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria, can provide a source for the bacteria

(D) The bacteria can continue to thrive indefinitely only in an environment in which the hydrogen sulfide they produce has removed all oxygen and killed other organisms in the area

(E) If any colony of bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide as a waste product, it thereby ensures that it is both provided with a source of food and protected from harm by oxygen

Ben471 · Answer

(A) A dense colony of the bacteria can indefinitely continue to produce enough hydrogen sulfide to kill other organisms in the area and to prevent oxygen from harming the bacteria  - Correct answer
 
(B) The hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria kills other organisms in the area by reacting with and removing oxygen  - hydrogen sulfide does not kill other organisms by reacting with oxygen

(C) Most organisms, if killed by the hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria, can provide a source for the bacteria  - argument does not talk of most organisms

(D) The bacteria can continue to thrive indefinitely only in an environment in which the hydrogen sulfide they produce has removed all oxygen and killed other organisms in the area  - too extreme.

(E) If any colony of bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide as a waste product, it thereby ensures that it is both provided with a source of food and protected from harm by oxygen.  - too general, as it says any colony of bacteria.

MusicCzar · Answer

This is an Inference question. Any statement that can be concluded based on the information in the question stem/passage is the right answer choice.
A) The passage mentions that a dense colony of bacteria produces a supportive environment for itself . the environment in which it thrives indefinitely. The process the bacteria uses to do so is by producing Hydrogen Sulfide that kills other organisms in the area. Correct
B) The Hydrogen Sulfide tends to kill other organisms.But the mechanism by which it kills is not specified. Incorrect.
C) This ans choice uses different phrases from the passage and forms a conditional statement, validity of which is not supported completely by the passage. Incorrect
D) The passage mentions that hydrogen sulfide removes oxygen, but whether it removes ALL oxygen or not is not supported by the passage. Incorrect
E) Passage mention about "Certain Bacteria" but the ans choice generalizes this for "Any colony of Bacteria" .Hence Incorrect.

Skywalker18 · Answer

Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product would die if directly exposed to oxygen. The hydrogen sulfide reacts with oxygen, removing it and so preventing it from harming the bacteria. Furthermore, the hydrogen sulfide tends to kill other organisms in the area, thereby providing the bacteria with a source of food. As a result, a dense colony of these bacteria produces for itself an environment in which it can continue to thrive indefinitely.

Type-inference
Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product would die if directly exposed to oxygen:- direct exposure to oxygen ---> certain bacteria would die
HS removes oxygen and thereby saves bacteria
HS kills other organisms--> Food
a dense colony of these bacteria produces for itself an environment in which it can continue to thrive indefinitely.

(A) A dense colony of the bacteria can indefinitely continue to produce enough hydrogen sulfide to kill other organisms in the area and to prevent oxygen from harming the bacteria - Correct

(B) The hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria kills other organisms in the area by reacting with and removing oxygen- Out of scope- we are never told about how HS kills the other organisms

(C) Most organisms, if killed by the hydrogen sulfide produced by the bacteria, can provide a source for the bacteria- "Most" is a red flag; also I believe that source should be specified as a source fo food

(D) The bacteria can continue to thrive indefinitely only in an environment in which the hydrogen sulfide they produce has removed all oxygen and killed other organisms in the area- "ONLY" is a red flag here; We are just given one scenario and some details about it. It is possible that there are other scenarios in which this bacteria may thrive.

(E) If any colony of bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide as a waste product, it thereby ensures that it is both provided with a source of food and protected from harm by oxygen-"any" is too much of a generalization

Answer A

YashYashkratos · Answer

A) Correct
B) additional info can't infer 
C)Most 
D) Only 
E) Any 
have to look out for extreme words in inference questions.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product

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Certain bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide as a waste product

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