Hard Reading Comp 13-15

The ratio of methane to other atmospheric constituents—represented by a measure called the methane mole fraction—influences a variety of meteorological phenomena, notably precipitation and humidity. For Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, the observational data that exist are too sparse and discrepant to fully constrain the range of the methane mole fraction at various atmospheric levels. Juan Lora and colleagues point out that outputs of the IPSL atmospheric model of Titan, which track closely to observations in some respects, reflect how the model’s developers responded to this challenge: by prescribing a uniform methane mole fraction for the lowest level of the atmosphere. It is therefore important to note that _____  

Which choice most logically completes the text?

• A. even though the model’s outputs sometimes agree with observational data, Titan’s real methane mole fraction is likely higher than the methane mole fraction used in the model.

• B. inconsistencies across the model’s simulations of Titan’s precipitation and humidity could be attributable to variations in the moon’s methane mole fraction.

• C. further observations of Titan may clarify the moon’s methane mole fraction sufficiently for the model to employ a single value rather than a range.

• D. some disagreements between the model’s simulations of Titan’s precipitation and humidity and the moon’s actual precipitation and humidity are to be expected.

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CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

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CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

Like many other genera of wild bees, bumblebees have in recent decades experienced population collapse caused by, among other factors, habitat destruction and climate variation. Bumblebees are also one of the most researched bee genera, second only to honeybees. As a result, ecologists have gained much of their insight about wild-bee declines from bumblebees. In a 2021 paper, zoologist Guillaume Ghisbain notes that bumblebees are among the relatively few wild-bee genera that display social behaviors and dietary generalism (ability to obtain nectar and pollen from a diversity of plant species), two traits that are associated with increased resilience to some specific environmental changes. Ghisbain therefore contends that _________

Which choice most logically completes the text?  

• A. because bumblebees and other bees with generalist diets are less negatively affected by environmental stress than bees with specialized diets are, they are less likely to experience major population changes in the future than bees with specialized diets are.

• B. although bumblebees have been more extensively studied than most wild bees, researchers should not use bumblebees to draw conclusions about the decline of other wild bees, even ones with feeding patterns and levels of sociability that are similar to those of bumblebees.

• C. although bumblebees and many other wild bees have experienced similar population declines in the past, compared with other wild bees, bumblebees are likely at greater risk of being harmed by climate variation than by habitat destruction.

• D. because the responses of bumblebees and other wild bees to environmental threats are not always comparable, researchers need to exercise caution when extrapolating information about wild-bee population declines from bumblebees.

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CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

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CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3