PrepTest 109, Section 2, Question 17
Experts anticipate that global atmospheric concentrations of carbon(445 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(11 more words not shown)
- AIt presents research(10 more words not shown)
- BIt presents solutions(10 more words not shown)
- CIt provides an(10 more words not shown)
- DIt provides experimental(11 more words not shown)
- EIt raises a(12 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
We've already challenged the promise of abundant crops. The final paragraph asks whether the other benefit might survive: even if the extra plants are weeds, could they at least slow warming by taking in CO2? Billings' research gives us another reason to doubt the opening's optimism.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
The simulation produced more plant growth, yet CO2 concentrations still rose (paragraph 3). Decomposing peat released more than the extra vegetation could absorb. That evidence undermines the proposed climate benefit from paragraph 1.
- B
No solution is proposed. We're learning why the expected benefit may fail, not how to fix the problem.
- C
Explaining how a benefit occurs and showing why it may not occur are different jobs. This paragraph does the second: the hoped-for slowdown is being challenged, not accepted and given another explanation.
- D
The preceding paragraph concerns different growth rates and competition among plants. Billings' study examines decomposition and CO2 release. It introduces a separate problem rather than confirming that earlier account of weeds outcompeting crops.
- E
There is a question at the start, but it doesn't challenge paragraph 2. It accepts that agricultural abundance isn't guaranteed, then asks whether increased vegetation could still deliver the climate benefit. The doubt reaches back to the opening hypothesis.
More Purpose of Paragraph questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Purpose of Paragraph questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.