The mistral is a powerful katabatic wind that sweeps through parts of

Question

The mistral is a powerful katabatic wind that sweeps through parts of Europe annually and contributes to the climate of Provençe, a large region in the South of France. Katabatic winds are created by the confluence of high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems when the combination of these systems moves downward from a higher elevation and pushes forcefully through a lower elevation. These winds are most notable around mountainous areas, developing into the very powerful blasts that come off the mountain slopes. In Europe the height of the Alps, in combination with the high-pressure winds off the North Atlantic and the low-pressure winds off the Mediterranean, create the formidable mistral that usually blows through Provençe in the winter, forcing the people of that region to adapt: bell-towers remain open in Provençe, and houses face south. At the same time, the air in Provençe is comparatively clear, and the people generally face fewer respiratory problems.

The statements made in the passage above imply which of the following about the mistral?

(A) The powerful winds of the mistral blow impurities and pollution out of the air, leaving it clean.

(B) There are katabatic winds like the mistral around any mountain chain, and the people who live in mountainous areas must learn to adapt to the powerful winds.

(C) Katabatic winds are unique to the South of France, because of the specific geophysical features of that part of Europe.

(D) The mistral is so powerful that it is known to damage structures frequently, requiring adaptation in construction.

(E) The mistral blows through most of Europe, but it is strongest in Provençe.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Overview:

In this question, the student must consider a passage that discusses the mistral, a strong wind most famous in the southern part of France. The author of the passage explains the causes and effects of the mistral in some detail. The author notes that the mistral is a type of katabatic wind, or a wind that develops from a combination of high-pressure and low-pressure systems and pushes in a downward direction from high elevation to low elevation. Due to the location of southern France, with the low-pressure winds off the Mediterranean Sea and the high-pressure winds from the Alps, the people of Provençe in the South of France receive the strong winds of the mistral. The question asks for the answer choice that is most implied by statements made in the passage. As with all questions of this variety, the student must keep the specific comments of the passage in mind. The correct answer will reflect a sentence or two in the passage, and the student should be able to point back to the passage and know exactly which sentence or sentences may be claimed for the inference. The student should keep a close eye on the wording of the answer choices in comparison to the wording of the passage, because even a single word can make a difference in whether or not an answer choice is correct.

The Correct Answer:

A At the end of the passage, the author states that “the air in Provençe is comparatively clear, and the people generally face fewer respiratory problems.” This suggests that the mistral wind—which is described as “powerful,” “strong,” “formidable” in the passage—actually contributes to the cleanliness of the air by literally blowing pollution and impurities away. The passage thus implies the statement made in answer choice (A) very clearly, so answer choice (A) is correct.

The Incorrect Answers:

B In the second sentence of the passage, it is noted, “Katabatic winds are created by the confluence of high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems, when the combination of these systems moves downward from a higher elevation and pushes forcefully through a lower elevation.” This suggests that katabatic winds are not necessarily unique to the South of France and that other regions of the world might experience such winds. The author of the passage goes on to explain the ways that the people of Provençe have adapted to the mistral, but there is not enough in the passage to argue that all peoples around the world who experience katabatic winds must learn to adapt; nor is there a guarantee that they have learned. What is more, the passage does not claim clearly that katabatic winds exist around any mountain chain, just that they may occur under certain conditions. There is simply not enough information in the passage to derive the inference made in the second part of answer choice (B), so answer choice (B) is not correct.

C As mentioned above in the explanation for answer choice (B), the author does leave open the possibility that katabatic winds exist in other parts of the world: “Katabatic winds are created by the confluence of high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems, when the combination of these systems moves downward from a higher elevation and pushes forcefully through a lower elevation.” Even though the author claims that the topographical qualities of Provençe make it ideal for katabatic winds, the author does not claim that katabatic winds are unique to the South of France, so answer choice (C) must be incorrect.

D The author claims that the people of Provençe have had to alter the construction of some buildings: “Bell-towers remain open in Provençe, and houses face south.” The author does not claim or imply, however, that the mistral damages structures frequently. Instead, the author suggests that the people of that region have long since learned how to live with the mistral, so their structures are not necessarily damaged as much anymore. Answer choice (D) is incorrect.

E Any student who is familiar with the mistral will know that the information in answer choice (E) is actually correct: the mistral does blow through other parts of Europe, but it strongest (and most famous) in the South of France. But this question is not a test of what the student already knows; it is more important that the student is able to focus on and digest the information in the test itself, independent of outside knowledge. In reality, there is nothing in the passage to suggest that the mistral blows through other parts of Europe but is specifically strongest in Provençe. Yes, the author indicates that the mistral might exist in other places, but those places are not noted or implied in any detail, except for the general remark about the mistral occurring “in Europe.” In reality, there is not enough information in the passage to argue confidently that the mistral blows through most of Europe or that it is strongest in Provençe. Answer choice (E), therefore, cannot be correct.

PSP92 · Answer

Looks like an inference question and not an assumption question.

Bunuel · Answer

_____________________
Edited the tag. Thank you.

unraveled · Answer

The mistral is a powerful katabatic wind that sweeps through parts of Europe annually and contributes to the climate of Provençe, a large region in the South of France. Katabatic winds are created by the confluence of high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems when the combination of these systems moves downward from a higher elevation and pushes forcefully through a lower elevation. These winds are most notable around mountainous areas, developing into the very powerful blasts that come off the mountain slopes. In Europe the height of the Alps, in combination with the high-pressure winds off the North Atlantic and the low-pressure winds off the Mediterranean, create the formidable mistral that usually blows through Provençe in the winter, forcing the people of that region to adapt: bell-towers remain open in Provençe, and houses face south. At the same time, the air in Provençe is comparatively clear, and the people generally face fewer respiratory problems.

The statements made in the passage above imply which of the following about the mistral?

(A) The powerful winds of the mistral blow impurities and pollution out of the air,  leaving it clean .

(B) There are katabatic winds like the mistral around  any  mountain chain, and the people who live in mountainous areas must learn to adapt to the powerful winds.

(C) Katabatic winds are  unique  to the South of France, because of the specific geophysical features of that part of Europe.

(D) The mistral is so powerful that it is known to  damage  structures  frequently , requiring adaptation in construction.

(E) The mistral blows through most of Europe, but it is  strongest  in Provençe.

Answer A.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The mistral is a powerful katabatic wind that sweeps through parts of

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