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- Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:00 am
#34710
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (C)
Scientists hypothesize that some types of microbes which, by consuming some of the molecules
from shale and other sediments, deplete atmospheric oxygen and create carbon dioxide. It appears
that carbon dioxide promotes global warming, and the microbes in question increase their rates of
reproduction as the temperature increases.
This author presents a basic fact set and, predictably, it is followed by a Must Be True question. The
correct answer choice will be the only one that passes the Fact Test, the choice that can be confirmed
by the information provided in the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): Although the stimulus does specify that the microbes consume molecules from
exposed shale and other sediments, the author does not mention how quickly such molecules get
depleted, or whether the microbes’ activity will soon diminish.
Since there is no information in the stimulus regarding how quickly this depletion might occur, this
choice fails the Fact Test and cannot be the right answer to this Must Be True question.
Answer choice (B): Scientists only conjecture that the microbes in question increase their
reproduction rate at higher temperatures; even this is not known for sure, and the author does not say
that the same is true of all carbon dioxide generating organisms. This choice fails the Fact Test and
should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed by the author, the microbes
in question produce carbon dioxide, which, it is believed, promotes global warming. Thus, as this
choice provides, if global warming occurs, the microbes would worsen the situation.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus only mentions that the microbes remove oxygen from the air,
but the author does not specify that oxygen is the only element removed, so this choice cannot be
confirmed by the stimulus and cannot be the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (E): The stimulus does not specify how much of the carbon dioxide in the earth’s
atmosphere was produced by the microbes in question, nor whether the portion was significant, so
this cannot be the right answer to this Must Be True question.
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (C)
Scientists hypothesize that some types of microbes which, by consuming some of the molecules
from shale and other sediments, deplete atmospheric oxygen and create carbon dioxide. It appears
that carbon dioxide promotes global warming, and the microbes in question increase their rates of
reproduction as the temperature increases.
This author presents a basic fact set and, predictably, it is followed by a Must Be True question. The
correct answer choice will be the only one that passes the Fact Test, the choice that can be confirmed
by the information provided in the stimulus.
Answer choice (A): Although the stimulus does specify that the microbes consume molecules from
exposed shale and other sediments, the author does not mention how quickly such molecules get
depleted, or whether the microbes’ activity will soon diminish.
Since there is no information in the stimulus regarding how quickly this depletion might occur, this
choice fails the Fact Test and cannot be the right answer to this Must Be True question.
Answer choice (B): Scientists only conjecture that the microbes in question increase their
reproduction rate at higher temperatures; even this is not known for sure, and the author does not say
that the same is true of all carbon dioxide generating organisms. This choice fails the Fact Test and
should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed by the author, the microbes
in question produce carbon dioxide, which, it is believed, promotes global warming. Thus, as this
choice provides, if global warming occurs, the microbes would worsen the situation.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus only mentions that the microbes remove oxygen from the air,
but the author does not specify that oxygen is the only element removed, so this choice cannot be
confirmed by the stimulus and cannot be the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (E): The stimulus does not specify how much of the carbon dioxide in the earth’s
atmosphere was produced by the microbes in question, nor whether the portion was significant, so
this cannot be the right answer to this Must Be True question.