The importance of the ozone layer to terrestrial animals is that it entirely filters out some wavelengths of light but lets others through. Holes in the ozone layer and the dangers associated with these holes are well documented. However, one danger that has not been given sufficient attention is that these holes could lead to severe eye damage for animals of many species.
Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above, if they are true?
(A) All wavelengths of sunlight that can cause eye damage are filtered out by the ozone layer where it is intact.
(B) Few species of animals live on a part of the earth’s surface that is not threatened by holes in the ozone layer.
(C) Some species of animals have eyes that will not suffer any damage when exposed to unfiltered sunlight.
(D) A single wavelength of sunlight can cause severe damage to the eyes of most species of animals.
(E) Some wavelengths of sunlight that cause eye damage are more likely to reach the earth’s surface where there are holes in the ozone layer than where there are not.
“The importance of the ozone layer to terrestrial animals is that”- is a GMAT critical reasoning question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.
Answer: (E)
Explanation: When reading the stimulus, your eye should be drawn to the modifier and indicator words. The scope of the stimulus is relatively broad, and aside from the word “entirely,” most of the modifiers are not absolute. Now, look at the rest of the problem and see how several of the answer choices attempt to prey upon those who did not read the stimulus closely. Here are the question stem and corresponding answer choices for the stimulus above with the previous discussion in mind, let us analyze the answer choices separately.
Option – A: Incorrect
The word "all" should raise a warning flag right away. We have no evidence to support the claim that the ozone layer filters out all harmful wavelengths anywhere in the stimulus. The only information in the stimulus is that "some" wavelengths are filtered by the ozone layer while others are not. The last sentence suggests that some of those that are filtered are dangerous. As a result, this option is ruled out.
Option – B: Incorrect
Since many animal species have the potential to suffer severe eye damage, we can deduce that some of them exist in ozone layer threat areas. Few species are known to exist in areas that are not threatened. As a result, this option is ruled out.
Option – C: Incorrect
Nothing in the passage establishes this option. You chose this option mistakenly if you believed that "many" implied "not all," which is an easy error to fix. All can be a part of "many." As a result, this option is ruled out.
Option – D: Incorrect
Watch those modifiers once more. Because the stimulus only mentions "many" species, the answer option is in error because it refers to "most" species. As a result, this option is ruled out.
Option – E: Correct
To support this claim, we can examine the stimulus's network of connections. The ozone layer filters some light wavelengths; ozone layer holes are dangerous, but one previously unrecognized danger of the holes is that many species may sustain eye damage. We can deduce from these two statements that some harmful light wavelengths must be passing through the holes. The statement in this option can correspond with this and is therefore the right answer.
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