Layers of the earths crust are exposed at several points along Californias San Andreas Fault. Notably, a team of geologists recently spotted a remote fold of exposed crust along the fault that contained shells of a species of mollusk from 500,000 years ago that can only survive at least 500 feet below the surface of the ocean. The exposed crust is comprised of the same sediment consistent with the known habitat of the mollusk. Surprisingly, however, ocean levels have generally been lower than they are now and were much lower during the great ice ages.
The information above most strongly supports which one of the following?
A. The Pacific Ocean today contains fewer living specimens of the mollusks unearthed at the fault.
B. There are other habitats that these mollusks can survive in other than at 500 feet or more below the ocean's surface.
C. The geologists on the team were the first people to see the fold of exposed crust.
D. The exposed crust was once lower than it is today.
E. The Pacific Ocean was once much higher at certain points over the last 500,000 years than it is today.
OA D
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Layers of the earths crust are exposed at several points
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What agrees with the information given?
Premise: An earth crust that contained shells of a species of mollusk was spotted by geologists.
Explanation: The surface of the Earth is below sea level because oceans cover 71% of the planet. But sea level varies and during that Great Ice Age 18,000 years ago, sea level was 130 meters lower (ref: www.geography.com)
Option A - Incorrect
The information given does not support or indicate that the pacific ocean contains fewer living specimens of the mollusks.
Option B - Incorrect
The information given focuses on layers of the earth crust not other inhabitants that the mollusks can survive.
Option C - Incorrect
There is no proof to show that they were the first people to see the fold of exposed crust.
Option D - Correct
The information given explained that ocean levels which equals to the surface of the earth have generally been lower than they are now as well as during the ice ages and yet the species of the mollusks survived on this earth crust even if it was only meant to survive 5000 feet below it.
Option E - Incorrect
This opposes the argument. The information given did not include that the pacific ocean was much higher at any point in time, but rather lower.
Premise: An earth crust that contained shells of a species of mollusk was spotted by geologists.
Explanation: The surface of the Earth is below sea level because oceans cover 71% of the planet. But sea level varies and during that Great Ice Age 18,000 years ago, sea level was 130 meters lower (ref: www.geography.com)
Option A - Incorrect
The information given does not support or indicate that the pacific ocean contains fewer living specimens of the mollusks.
Option B - Incorrect
The information given focuses on layers of the earth crust not other inhabitants that the mollusks can survive.
Option C - Incorrect
There is no proof to show that they were the first people to see the fold of exposed crust.
Option D - Correct
The information given explained that ocean levels which equals to the surface of the earth have generally been lower than they are now as well as during the ice ages and yet the species of the mollusks survived on this earth crust even if it was only meant to survive 5000 feet below it.
Option E - Incorrect
This opposes the argument. The information given did not include that the pacific ocean was much higher at any point in time, but rather lower.
