Last visit was: 24 Nov 2024, 02:19 It is currently 24 Nov 2024, 02:19
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New comers' posts
New posts
Unanswered

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
PREVIOUS TOPIC
NEXT TOPIC

In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles?

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
Tags :
Find Similar Topics  About  Add a Tag

Show Tags
Hide Tags

User avatar
RBornPowerScore
Intern
Intern
Joined: 29 Sep 2015
Posts: 24
Own Kudos [?]: 35 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 17 Mar 2021, 09:20
Expert Reply
Question 1
00:00

Question Stats:

94% (02:21) correct 6% (05:41) wrong based on 18 sessions

Hide Show timer Statistics

Warming in the Antarctic Ocean, believed to result from increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, is melting glaciers in Antarctica. Ice is slowly sliding off the continent, collecting iron from the underlying bedrock before dissolving in the surrounding seas. Microscopic marine organisms called phytoplankton tend to thrive in iron-rich waters. It follows that the warm ocean waters around Antarctica host growing populations of phytoplankton. These infinitesimal aquatic plants create food through photosynthesis, a process that converts CO2 into carbohydrates. Therefore, levels of atmospheric CO2 should fall at least slightly as glacial melting in Antarctica continues.

In the argument given, the two portions in [b]boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second provides support for that conclusion.

B. The first provides support for the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second provides evidence that supports an objection to that conclusion.

C. The first provides support for an intermediate conclusion that supports a further conclusion stated in the argument; the second states that intermediate conclusion.

D. The first serves as an intermediate conclusion that supports a further conclusion stated in the argument; the second states the position that the argument as a whole
opposes.

E. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second supports the conclusion of the argument.

ShowHide Answer Question #1
Official Answer
C

Originally posted by RBornPowerScore on 25 Jan 2016, 07:33.
Last edited by Carcass on 17 Mar 2021, 09:20, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
RBornPowerScore
Intern
Intern
Joined: 29 Sep 2015
Posts: 24
Own Kudos [?]: 35 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2016, 07:33
Expert Reply
Show: :: Explanation
The question requires you to analyze the structure of an argument. Each answer choice mentions either an "intermediate conclusion" or the "conclusion of the argument as a whole," so the passage very likely contains two arguments linked together. And, in fact, it does. Here's a simple paraphrase of the linked argument.

1. Warm waters in the Antarctic Ocean melt Antarctic glaciers. (Premise, Sentence 1)
2. Melting Antarctic glaciers deposit iron in the Antarctic Ocean. (Premise, Sentence 2)
3. Iron helps phytoplankton grow. (Premise, Sentence 3)
4. Therefore, Warm waters in the Antarctic Ocean breed phytoplankton. (Intermediate Conclusion, Sentence 4)
5. Phytoplankton consume atmospheric CO2. (Premise, Sentence 5)
6. Therefore, Melting Antarctic glaciers reduce atmospheric CO2. (Main Conclusion, Sentence 6)

Statements 2 and 4 correspond to the bolded parts of the passage. 2 supports 4, an intermediate conclusion, and 4 supports 6, the conclusion of the argument as a whole. So the correct answer is C.
User avatar
D
Carcass
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30017
Own Kudos [?]: 36368 [0]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2020, 13:17
Expert Reply
Bump for further discussion
avatar
B
amitnathgupta
Intern
Intern
Joined: 12 Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Own Kudos [?]: 8 [0]
Given Kudos: 119
Send PM
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   17 Mar 2021, 09:10
Why correct answer is not mentioned ? OPTION [D] ? If not, please explain.
User avatar
D
GeminiHeat
GRE Prep Club Team Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2017
Posts: 2508
Own Kudos [?]: 3625 [0]
Given Kudos: 1053
GPA: 3.39
Send PM
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   17 Mar 2021, 09:18
Expert Reply
amitnathgupta wrote:
Why correct answer is not mentioned ? OPTION [D] ? If not, please explain.


Official Explanation

The question requires you to analyze the structure of an argument. Each answer choice mentions either an "intermediate conclusion" or the "conclusion of the argument as a whole," so the passage very likely contains two arguments linked together. And, in fact, it does. Here's a simple paraphrase of the linked argument.

1. Warm waters in the Antarctic Ocean melt Antarctic glaciers. (Premise, Sentence 1)
2. Melting Antarctic glaciers deposit iron in the Antarctic Ocean. (Premise, Sentence 2)
3. Iron helps phytoplankton grow. (Premise, Sentence 3)
4. Therefore, Warm waters in the Antarctic Ocean breed phytoplankton. (Intermediate Conclusion, Sentence 4)
5. Phytoplankton consume atmospheric CO2. (Premise, Sentence 5)
6. Therefore, Melting Antarctic glaciers reduce atmospheric CO2. (Main Conclusion, Sentence 6)

Statements 2 and 4 correspond to the bolded parts of the passage. 2 supports 4, an intermediate conclusion, and 4 supports 6, the conclusion of the argument as a whole. So the correct answer is C.
User avatar
D
Carcass
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30017
Own Kudos [?]: 36368 [0]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink] New post   17 Mar 2021, 09:21
Expert Reply
Fixed the timer
Prep Club for GRE Bot
gmatclubot
Re: In the argument, the portions in boldface play which roles? [#permalink]
17 Mar 2021, 09:21
Moderators:
bronaugust
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
VibhuAnurag
GRE Instructor
234 posts
HarishKumar
GRE Instructor
1065 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne

Main navigation

Partners

GRE Resources

www.ets.org/gre | About | Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy | Prep Club for GRE Rules | Contact