PrepTest 109, Section 2, Question 16
Experts anticipate that global atmospheric concentrations of carbon(445 more words not shown)
The passage suggests that the(35 more words not shown)
- AIncreased levels of(11 more words not shown)
- BIncreased plant growth(11 more words not shown)
- CLow-latitude habitats will(12 more words not shown)
- DIncreased levels of(15 more words not shown)
- EIncreases in vegetation(11 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The opening's optimism runs into two problems: unequal benefits to plants, and more CO2 released by decomposing peat. This question narrows our attention to the expected slowdown in warming. What could cancel out the benefit of extra plants taking in CO2?
What we’re looking for
The hypothesis is in paragraph 1. The evidence against it can come later.
Working the answers
- A
This is part of the hypothesis itself. Its supporters already expect increased photosynthesis; that isn't what they overlooked.
- BCorrect
The final paragraph says extra plant growth could not offset the sharply faster decay (paragraph 3). Warming thaws the permafrost, more peat decomposes, and that releases CO2. The plants remove some, but not enough to offset the increased release. That's the missing side of the calculation.
- C
Wrong location. The ending says “high-latitude habitats” are expected to experience the greatest temperature increases, not low-latitude ones.
- D
Changing plant growth is discussed, but this adds a change in the distribution of peat. The problem described is more peat decomposing as the tundra warms, not plant growth changing where peat is found.
- E
The hypothesis already relies on vegetation drawing CO2 from the atmosphere. The author accepts that this happens. The objection is that the extra uptake needn't outweigh the extra release.
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