Water vapor evaporated from the ocean contains a greater proportion of oxygen-16 and a smaller proportion of the heavier oxygen-18 than does seawater. Normally, this phenomenon has no effect on the overall composition of the ocean, because evaporated seawater returns to the ocean through precipitation. During an ice age, however, a large amount of precipitation falls on ice caps, where it is trapped as ice.
Which one of the following conclusions about a typical ice age is most strongly supported by the statements above?
(A) The proportions of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 are the same in vapor from seawater as in the seawater itself.
(B) The concentration of oxygen-18 in seawater is increased.
(C) Rain and snow contain relatively more oxygen-16 than they do in interglacial periods.
(D) During the ice age, more of the Earth's precipitation falls over land than falls over the ocean.
(E) The composition of seawater changes more slowly than it does in interglacial periods.
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Water vapor evaporated from the ocean contains a greater
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Option A - INCORRECT.
The proportions of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 are the same in vapor from seawater as in the seawater itself but cannot form an ice during the ice age period.
Option B - INCORRECT.The concentration of oxygen-18 in seawater is increased but cannot form a solid solution.
Option C - CORRECT.
This option has a summary of the conclusion on how a typical Ice age is composed. Rain and snow contain relatively more oxygen-16 than they do in inter-glacial periods which creates a solid from a solution ''ICE AGE''.
Option D - INCORRECT.
During the ice age, more of the Earth's precipitation falls over land than falls over the sea. This claim may be true but was not being proven in the discussion.
Option E - INCORRECT.
The composition of seawater changes more slowly than it does in inter-glacial periods, that is why there is a separation consecutively during the glacial periods within an ice age.
The proportions of oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 are the same in vapor from seawater as in the seawater itself but cannot form an ice during the ice age period.
Option B - INCORRECT.The concentration of oxygen-18 in seawater is increased but cannot form a solid solution.
Option C - CORRECT.
This option has a summary of the conclusion on how a typical Ice age is composed. Rain and snow contain relatively more oxygen-16 than they do in inter-glacial periods which creates a solid from a solution ''ICE AGE''.
Option D - INCORRECT.
During the ice age, more of the Earth's precipitation falls over land than falls over the sea. This claim may be true but was not being proven in the discussion.
Option E - INCORRECT.
The composition of seawater changes more slowly than it does in inter-glacial periods, that is why there is a separation consecutively during the glacial periods within an ice age.
