PrepTest 132, Section 1, Question 7
To study centuries-old earthquakes and the geologic faults(444 more words not shown)
The passage indicates that using(11 more words not shown)
- Athe multiplicity of(8 more words not shown)
- Bthe variable amount(7 more words not shown)
- Cthe fact that(10 more words not shown)
- Dthe fluctuations in(12 more words not shown)
- Ethe possibility that(8 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The accuracy problem comes from variation in environmental carbon 14, which depends on incoming radiation. The last paragraph says that radiation has fluctuated greatly during the last 300 years. Look for that source of uncertainty, rather than a different obstacle to doing the research.
Working the answers
- A
The number of types of organic material isn't identified as the problem. The account doesn't compare the difficulties of analyzing wood, leaves, or other material.
- B
How much organic material is trapped in the sediment is different from how much carbon 14 it contains. The problem concerns the isotope's changing environmental level.
- C
No visible fault line could make it difficult to locate the relevant material. That is different from the stated reason a radiocarbon date may be unreliable once the method is used.
- DCorrect
The last paragraph says carbon 14 “varies naturally in the environment,” which limits the precision of the dates. This is the fluctuation we recalled.
- E
Variation in the intensity of radiation doesn't mean there were periods when none struck the atmosphere. That possibility isn't stated.
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