Scientists have been Puzzled by the Seeming Disparity GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

This passage is excerpted from material published in 1997.

Scientists have been puzzled by the seeming disparity between models of global warming based on (5) greenhouse gas emissions and actual climatological data. In short, the world is not warming up as much as these models have predicted. In the early 1990s, Pat Michaels sought to explain this disparity, suggesting that sulfate emissions in industrial areas had a cooling (10) effect, thus temporarily retarding global warming. Michaels later came to doubt this idea, however, Northern Hemisphere, its cooling influence should be largely limited to that hemisphere. Yet, since 1987,(15) warming in the Southern Hemisphere, which had been relatively intense, has virtually ceased, while warming in the north has accelerated. Thus, Michaels not only doubted the idea of sulfate cooling, but came to feel that global warming models themselves may be (20) flawed. Ben Santer disagrees. Santer contends that, in general, global warming occurs more slowly in the south because this hemisphere is dominated by oceans, which warm more slowly than the landmasses(25) that dominate the Northern Hemisphere. But, according to Santer, the situation remains complicated by sulfate cooling, which peaked in the north in the mid-twentieth century. It drastically slowed warming in the Northern Hemisphere, and warming in the (30) Southern Hemisphere raced ahead. Since 1987, Santer argues, the greenhouse effect has reasserted itself, and the north has taken the lead. Thus, Santer disputes Michaels’s claim that model predictions and observed data differ fundamentally.

“Scientists have been Puzzled by the Seeming Disparity GMAT Reading Comprehension” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions and related answers. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions check the candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The passage suggests that, in the early 1990s, Michaels would have been most likely to agree with which of the following statements about the disparity mentioned in lines 3-4?

1. This disparity is relatively less extreme in the Northern Hemisphere because of sulfate cooling.
2. This disparity is only a short-term phenomenon brought about by sulfate cooling.
3. This disparity is most significant in those parts of the world dominated by oceans.
4. The extent of this disparity is being masked by the temporary effect of sulfate cooling.
5. The disparity confirms that current models of global warming are correct.

2. According to the passage, Santer asserts which of the following about global warming?

1. It will become a more serious problem in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere in spite of the cooling influence of oceans in the south.
2. It is unlikely to be a serious problem in the future because of the pervasive effect of sulfate cooling.
3. It will proceed at the same general rate in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres once the temporary influence of sulfate cooling comes to an end.
4. Until the late 1980s, it was moderated in the Northern Hemisphere by the effect of sulfate cooling.
5. Largely because of the cooling influence of oceans, it has had no discernible impact on the Southern Hemisphere.

3. The passage suggests that Santer and Michaels would be most likely to DISAGREE over which of the following issues?

1. Whether climatological data invalidates global warming models
2. Whether warming in the Northern Hemisphere has intensified since 1987
3. Whether disparities between global warming models and climatological data can be detected
4. Whether landmasses warm more rapidly than oceans
5. Whether oceans have a significant effect on global climate patterns

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