Reading Passage Question
Because of the proximity and likeness of Mars to Earth, scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars. As early as the mid 17th century, astronomers observed polar ice caps on Mars, and by the mid-19th century, scientists discovered other similarities to Earth, including the length of day and axial tilt. But in 1965, photos taken by the Mariner 4 probe revealed a Mars without rivers, oceans or signs of life. And in the 1990s, it was discovered that Mars, unlike Earth, no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field, allowing celestial radiation to reach the planet's surface and solar wind to eliminate much of Mars's atmosphere over the course of several billion years.
More recent probes have focused on whether there was once water on Mars. Some scientists believe that this question is definitively answered by the presence of certain geological landforms. Others posit that different explanations, such as wind erosion or carbon dioxide oceans, may be responsible for these formations. Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, which have been exploring the surface of Mars since 2004, have both discovered geological evidence of past water activity. These findings substantially bolster claims that there was once life on Mars.
“Because of the proximity and likeness of Mars to Earth” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Nominees must have a firm understanding of English GMAT reading comprehension. There are four comprehension questions in this GMAT Reading Comprehension section. GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are conducted to examine candidates' skills to decipher, interpret, and utilize knowledge or ideas. Candidates can actively prepare by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanations
- The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
(A) disproving a widely accepted theory
(B) initiating a debate about the possibility of life on Mars
(C) presenting evidence in support of a controversial claim
(D) describing the various discoveries made concerning the possibility of life on Mars
(E) detailing the findings of the Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit
Answer: (D)
Explanation: The fourth option is the right answer. The passage does discuss various discoveries about the possibility of life on Mars made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well as more recently. The statement in this option can correspond to the above description accurately while the rest of the options do not.
- Each of the following discoveries is mentioned in the passage EXCEPT
(A) Wind erosion and carbon dioxide oceans are responsible for certain geological landforms on Mars.
(B) Mars does not have a substantial global magnetic field.
(C) Mars does not currently have water activity.
(D) The length of day on Mars is similar to that on Earth.
(E) The axial tilt of Mars is similar to that of Earth.
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Four of the answers, as indicated by the question, are mentioned in the passage. Therefore, this is a detail, with the exception of the question where the answer that was not mentioned will be correct. In the first option, it is stated that specific geological landforms on Mars are attributed to wind erosion and oceans of carbon dioxide. This is far-fetched and cannot be clearly inferred making this the right answer.
- The passage suggests which of the following about polar ice caps?
(A) Until recently, the ones on Mars were thought to consist largely of carbon dioxide.
(B) The ones on Mars are made almost entirely of frozen water.
(C) They are also found on Earth.
(D) Their formation is tied to length of day and axial tilt.
(E) They indicate that conditions on the planet Mars were once very different than they are at present.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The polar ice caps on Mars were first noticed by astronomers in the middle of the eighteenth century. And by the middle of the nineteenth century. Scientists had also found other similarities to Earth, such as the axial tilt and day length. With this information from the passage, it is clear that the third option is the right answer as it can correspond to this. The rest of the options are all wrong answers as they are inaccurate or out of scope.
- It can be inferred from the passage that scientists would be more likely to suspect that Mars once held life if there was evidence of which of the following features?
(A) Carbon dioxide oceans
(B) Celestial radiation and solar wind
(C) High daily level of sunlight reaching the planet's surface
(D) Volcanic eruptions
(E) A significant global magnetic field
Answer: (E)
Explanation: The final option is the right answer. This is because of the following reason. The first paragraph makes the point that Mars. In contrast to Earth, it lacks a sizable global magnetic field, casting doubt on the possibility of life there. The implication is that the existence of a global magnetic field would support the existence of life on Mars.
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