New evidence that fixes problems with old ·Actual temperatures now match expected temperatures, after accounting for sulfates
Sulfates can lead to cooler temperatures by reflecting energy back into space. After we account for this, models of the greenhouse effect match actual temperatures.
Challenge fails ·Solar activity models can't explain entire recent rise in temperature
Average atmospheric temperature fluctuates over long term, but used to be very stable. The solar activity corresponds to those fluctuations. But the recent increase in temperature goes beyond the most extreme fluctuations; these don't fit the model.
The correct answer will probably be supported by P2 or P3, since this is where the author discusses how evidence impacts the plausibility of the greenhouse theory and the solar fluctuation theory. The correct answer will be something the author finds important in evaluating the success of a model for explaining the recent increase in earth’s temperature.
Not supported, because there’s no indication the author believes correspondence concerning “the last few years” is crucial in determining the success of a model. Rather, what the author finds important is correspondence with the “recent rise in atmospheric temperature,” which has occurred over “the last 100 years.”
b
that the model ████████ ██ ████████ ██ ███ ███████ ███████████ ██ ███ █████ ██ █ ██████ ███████████ █████████
There’s no evidence the author finds the simplicity of an explanation important. She doesn’t reject solar fluctuation on the basis of lack of simplicity, nor does she find the greenhouse theory persuasive because of simplicity.
c
the extent to █████ ███ █████ ███ ████ ███████ ██ █████ ██ ████████████ ████████
The author doesn’t reject the solar fluctuation theory because of how little or how much it has been revised. Nor does she accept the greenhouse theory because of how little or how much it has been revised. So there’s no evidence the author finds the extent to which a model has been revised important.
d
a close fit ███████ ███ ███████ ██████████ ██████████ ██ ███ ██████ ███ █████ ████ ███ █████████ ████████████ ██ ██ ████ ██ █████ ███████████ ████████████
The author doesn’t reject the solar fluctuation theory because of a lack of fit between warming mechanisms and those postulated by the solar fluctuation theory. She doesn’t say, for example, that solar energy isn’t something that is typically thought to change temperature. Nor does she accept the greenhouse theory on the basis of a close fit between its postulated mechanisms and those acknowledged to raise temperatures. She doesn’t say, for example, that the greenhouse theory is the best explanation because we know greenhouse gases merely because we know greenhouse gases can warm the atmosphere.
Supported, because the author finds it important that a model’s estimated changes correspond with the “recent rise in atmospheric temperature,” which has occurred over “the last 100 years.” Solar-fluctuation theory’s estimates don’t correspond, so the author finds it less plausible than the greenhouse gas theory. “Long-term match” fits the author’s concern for the last 100 years; “the last few years” from (A) doesn’t fit her concern for the last 100 years.
Difficulty
61% of people who answer get this correct
This is a difficult question.
It is slightly harder than the average question in this passage.
CURVE
Score of students with a 50% chance of getting this right
25%138
155
75%172
Analysis
Author’s perspective
Implied
Critique or debate
Phenomenon-hypothesis
Science
Answer Popularity
PopularityAvg. score
a
28%
161
b
2%
149
c
6%
157
d
5%
156
e
61%
163
Question history
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