PrepTest 109, Section 2, Question 19
Experts anticipate that global atmospheric concentrations of carbon(445 more words not shown)
The author would be most(31 more words not shown)
- AThe conclusions are(16 more words not shown)
- BThe conclusions are(15 more words not shown)
- CThe conclusions are(14 more words not shown)
- DThe conclusions are(16 more words not shown)
- EThe conclusions are(11 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
My first reaction is that the conclusions are wrong. Haven't we just spent the discussion dismantling the supposed silver lining?
What we’re looking for
But we need to read which conclusion each answer describes. The author may reject the promised payoff without rejecting every step used to predict it. Don't eliminate an answer just because it begins by saying the conclusions are correct.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
Here is the part the author accepts: increased CO2 can increase photosynthetic rates in certain plants. Paragraph 2 says recent studies verify that plants would generally grow more. Our initial reaction was too broad. The growth effect can be real even though the predicted agricultural and climate benefits don't follow.
- B
This accepts the leap the author challenges. More growth doesn't guarantee abundant crops when weeds may gain more and reduce crop yields.
- C
Even the opening only suggests slowing warming, not reversing it. The final paragraph questions whether the extra plants can reliably achieve even that smaller benefit.
- D
Certain species could become abundant. They might be weeds! The author doesn't reject abundant plant growth just because it may be the wrong plants for agriculture.
- E
The author accepts that vegetation draws CO2 from the atmosphere. The tundra example shows it failing to remove enough to compensate for increased decomposition. Not enough is different from none.
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