If 10% or More of a Planet's Total Mass is Water

Topic: If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be no freshwater environment on that planet as bodies of freshwater are produced by accumulation of natural precipitation on land. A planet without any freshwater environment is unlikely to harbour complex forms of life because they require a good amount of phosphorus to be present in absorbable form in their environment.

Which of the following can be inferred from the information provided above?

1. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, natural precipitation cannot occur on that planet.
2. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be no dry land on that planet.
3. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be little phosphorus on that planet.
4. A planet without any freshwater environment is likely to have simple forms of life in abundance.
5. A planet without any freshwater environment is likely to contain no phosphorus at all.

If 10% or More of a Planet's Total Mass is Water – is a topic of GMAT verbal of the genre “Critical Reasoning”. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘501 GMAT Questions’. In this particular topic, candidates need to choose the option that best suits the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B

Solution and Explanation:

The statement states- If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be no freshwater environment on that planet as bodies of freshwater are produced by accumulation of natural precipitation on land. A planet without any freshwater environment is unlikely to harbour complex forms of life because they require a good amount of phosphorus to be present in absorbable form in their environment.

Let's go through the assumptions that suits the most with the given argument:

1. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, natural precipitation cannot occur on that planet-
   The given context states that natural precipitation occurs on land to create a freshwater environment. Later the context also clears that it doesn't mean it cannot occur in water bodies themselves. The only distinction is freshwater would not occur on that planet. Hence this is not an appropriate answer.
2. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be no dry land on that planet-
   The given context states that it is a bit difficult to understand the other options that imply there is no land to occur in natural precipitation. Hence, no freshwater environment is available on that planet. Hence option B is the most appropriate answer.
3. If 10% or more of a planet's total mass is water, there can be little phosphorus on that plane-
   There is no mention in the context about how or in what way phosphorus is available. Hence this is incorrect.
4. A planet without any freshwater environment is likely to have simple forms of life in abundance.
   This does not infer correct information.
5. A planet without any freshwater environment is likely to contain no phosphorus at all.
   There is no mention in the context of how or in what way phosphorus is available. Hence this is incorrect.

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