Reading Comprehension

sahilchaudhary wrote:Prior to 1965 geologists assumed that the two giant rock plates meeting at the San Andreas Fault generate heat through friction as they grind past each other, but in 1965 Henyey found that temperatures in drill holes near the fault were not as elevated as had been expected. Some geologists wondered whether the absence of friction-generated heat could be explained by the kinds of rock composing the fault. Geologists' pre-1965 assumptions concerning heat generated in the fault were based on calculations about common varieties of rocks, such as limestone and granite; but "weaker" materials, such as clays, had already been identified in samples retrieved from the fault zone. Under normal conditions, rocks composed of clay produce far less friction than do other rock types.

In 1992 Byerlee tested whether these materials would produce friction 10 to 15 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Byerlee found that when clay samples were subjected to the thousands of atmospheres of pressure they would encounter deep inside the Earth, they produced as much friction as was produced by other rock types. The harder rocks push against each other, the hotter they become; in other words, pressure itself, not only the rocks' properties, affects frictional heating. Geologists therefore wondered whether the friction between the plates was being reduced by pockets of pressurized water within the fault that push the plates away from each other.

The passage suggests which of the following regarding Henyey's findings about temperature in the San Andreas Fault?

saheebabatra wrote:Hi Brent,

" but in 1965 Henyey found that temperatures in drill holes near the fault were not as elevated as had been expected. Some geologists wondered whether the absence of friction-generated heat could be explained by the kinds of rock composing the fault. Geologists' pre-1965 assumptions concerning heat generated in the fault were based on calculations about common varieties of rocks, such as limestone and granite; but "weaker" materials, such as clays, had already been identified in samples retrieved from the fault zone. Under normal conditions, rocks composed of clay produce far less friction than do other rock types. "

Doesn't the highlighted part say that Henyey's findings supported for an assumption(that weaker materials like clay produce less friction) long held by geologists??

parveen110 wrote:Hi Brent,

I've watched your videos on RC. You suggest that main idea should be devoid of terminologies/wordings from the passage. In that sense, what should be the main idea here??

The best I could make up the main idea here was: 'Curiosity around the lower temp. levels across the rock plates'. I know i'm way off. But i thought i'd write still.

Thanks!

parveen110 wrote:Hi Brent,

I've watched your videos on RC. You suggest that main idea should be devoid of terminologies/wordings from the passage. In that sense, what should be the main idea here??

The best I could make up the main idea here was: 'Curiosity around the lower temp. levels across the rock plates'. I know i'm way off. But i thought i'd write still.

Thanks!