PrepTest 132, Section 1, Question 4
To study centuries-old earthquakes and the geologic faults(444 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(8 more words not shown)
- ALichenometry is less(13 more words not shown)
- BRadiocarbon dating is(17 more words not shown)
- CRadiocarbon dating and(13 more words not shown)
- DRadiocarbon dating is(13 more words not shown)
- EThe usefulness of(21 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
This is a broad support question. We know the basic steps of both methods and the stated limits on their accuracy. Rather than predict one particular detail, we'll check whether each claim follows from that information.
Working the answers
- A
The comparison concerns dating past earthquakes. We don't get a separate accuracy comparison for predicting future ones.
- BCorrect
The opening describes digging along visible fault lines to find shifted sediments and date the organic material trapped there. Without an identifiable fault line, researchers lack the route described for locating that evidence. That supports the cautious claim that this method would be unlikely to help in such a case.
- C
Discussing two methods doesn't establish that they are the only viable ones.
- D
Four hundred years ago falls within the period for which lichenometry is said to work best. Nothing supports saying radiocarbon dating is more accurate there. Nor could we establish the reverse ranking merely by changing the date to more than 500 years ago.
- E
Conditions that affect growth aren't an automatic disqualification. The last sentence says shade and wind must be “factored in.” Accounting for an influence is different from requiring that it never occur.
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