PrepTest 151, Section 1, Question 24
According to the generally accepted theory of plate(459 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(25 more words not shown)
- ASome regions where(23 more words not shown)
- BThere are areas(14 more words not shown)
- CThere are areas(20 more words not shown)
- DThe size of(17 more words not shown)
- EThere is an(20 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
We want an observation that conflicts with the proposed mechanism. Plates moving in the same direction should produce a steep descent, less contact, and relatively little earthquake activity. An obvious challenge would be frequent earthquakes despite that pattern. If the proposed explanation predicts relative quiet and we find substantial shaking, something isn't working as expected.
What we’re looking for
Keep the underlying connection in mind as we check the choices: the angle matters because it changes the contact and friction between the plates.
Working the answers
- A
This is the expected pattern. The plates move in the same direction, subduction occurs, and earthquakes are infrequent. That is what the scientists are trying to explain, not a counterexample to their explanation.
- B
A collision with little seismic activity isn't enough to create a problem. Quiet subduction zones already involve colliding plates. We need to know something about the type of collision or descent that makes the quiet unexpected.
- CCorrect
This tests the other side of the same mechanism. A shallow descent leaves a large area of contact, so the scientists expect substantial earthquake-producing friction. Yet these areas have few or no earthquakes. We predicted a quiet-zone pattern with unexpected shaking; C instead gives us the friction-producing pattern with unexpected quiet. Either mismatch challenges the proposed connection.
- D
The proposal does connect the descent angle with the contact area: shallow descent allows more contact, while steep descent reduces it. Saying the contact area depends only on that angle doesn't break the proposed mechanism or supply a conflicting earthquake pattern.
- E
Steep descent with little seismic activity is another expected result. To make this a challenge, we would need substantial earthquake activity despite the reduced contact associated with the steep angle.
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