GMAT Prep Passage 4 | Question # 1

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GMAT Prep Passage 4 | Question # 1

by richachampion » Wed Oct 12, 2016 1:28 am
The storms most studied by climatologists have been those that are most easily understood by taking atmospheric measurements. Hurricanes and tornadoes, for example, are spatially confined, the forces that drive them are highly concentrated, and they have distinctive forms and readily quantifiable characteristics. Consequently, data about them are abundant, and their behavior is relatively well understood, although still difficult to predict.

Hurricanes and tornadoes are also studied because they are highly destructive storms, and knowledge about their behavior can help minimize injury to people and property. But other equally destructive storms have not been so thoroughly researched, perhaps because they are more difficult to study. A primary example is the northeaster, a type of coastal storm that causes significant damage along the eastern coast of North America. Northeasters, whose diffuse nature makes them difficult to categorize, are relatively weak low-pressure systems with winds that rarely acquire the strength of even the smallest hurricane. Although northeasters are perceived to be less destructive than other storms, the high waves associated with strong northeasters can cause damage comparable to that of a hurricane, because they can affect stretches of coast more than 1,500 kilometers long, whereas hurricanes typically threaten a relatively small ribbon of coastline--roughly 100 to 150 kilometers.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. evaluate the relative amounts of damage caused by different storm types
B. describe the difficulties of classifying destructive storms by type
C. examine the relationship between wave height and the destructive potential of storms
D. discuss a theory that explains the origins of violent storms
E. discuss reasons why certain types of storms receive more study than others

OA: E

All questions from this Passage -
GMAT Prep Passage 4|Question #1
GMAT Prep Passage 4|Question #2
GMAT Prep Passage 4|Question #3
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by richachampion » Wed Oct 12, 2016 1:41 am
Evaluate/Discuss/Examine/Describe these words are quiet common and I am sure they plays a significant role in RC Main idea. Can some expert discuss how the detailed knowledge about them can help eliminated many choices in RC Passages.
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by richachampion » Wed Oct 12, 2016 1:54 am
A. evaluate the relative amounts of damage caused by different storm types
I think the passage is not in the evolution mode. Additionally, it is too narrow answer choice when it says "evaluate the relative amounts of damage caused by different storm types" This is not the whole Idea of the passage.
B. describe the difficulties of classifying destructive storms by type
Although the passage discusses about the difficulty at one point, but thats not about the main idea of the whole passage.
C. examine the relationship between wave height and the destructive potential of storms
Again too Narrow!
D. discuss a theory that explains the origins of violent storms
Completely Out of Scope!
E. discuss reasons why certain types of storms receive more study than others
This seems to be the Credited answer.


OA: E
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by richachampion » Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:16 am
Bumping the thread for the experts review.
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