While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:A thermal inversion is a phenomenon where a layer of...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- A thermal inversion is a phenomenon where a layer of atmosphere is warmer than the layer beneath it.
- In 2022, a team of researchers studied the presence of thermal inversions in twenty-five gas giants.
- Gas giants are planets largely composed of helium and hydrogen.
- The team found that gas giants featuring a thermal inversion were also likely to contain heat-absorbing metals.
- One explanation for this relationship is that these metals may reside in a planet's upper atmosphere, where their absorbed heat causes an increase in temperature.
The student wants to present the study's findings to an audience already familiar with thermal inversions. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Heat-absorbing metals may reside in a planet's upper atmosphere.
The team studied thermal inversions in twenty-five gas giants, which are largely composed of helium and hydrogen.
Researchers found that gas giants featuring a thermal inversion were likely to contain heat-absorbing metals, which may reside in the planets' upper atmospheres.
Gas giants were likely to contain heat-absorbing metals when they featured a layer of atmosphere warmer than the layer beneath it, researchers found; this phenomenon is known as a thermal inversion.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A thermal inversion is a phenomenon where a layer of atmosphere is warmer than the layer beneath it." |
|
| "In 2022, a team of researchers studied the presence of thermal inversions in twenty-five gas giants." |
|
| "Gas giants are planets largely composed of helium and hydrogen." |
|
| "The team found that gas giants featuring a thermal inversion were also likely to contain heat-absorbing metals." |
|
| "One explanation for this relationship is that these metals may reside in a planet's upper atmosphere, where their absorbed heat causes an increase in temperature." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A 2022 study found a relationship between thermal inversions and heat-absorbing metals in gas giants, with a potential explanation involving metals in upper atmospheres.
Argument Flow: The notes begin by defining thermal inversions, then introduce a 2022 study of gas giants (which are also defined). The study's key finding links thermal inversions to heat-absorbing metals, and this relationship is explained through metals in upper atmospheres absorbing heat and increasing temperature.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice best presents the study findings to people who already know what thermal inversions are.
What type of answer do we need? The question asks which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish the goal of presenting the study's findings to an audience already familiar with thermal inversions.
Any limiting keywords? The audience is already familiar with thermal inversions, so we don't need to define or explain thermal inversions.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Since the audience already knows what thermal inversions are, we don't need to define them
- The focus should be on the study's actual findings
- The key elements should be: The study found a relationship between thermal inversions and heat-absorbing metals in gas giants, and the explanation for this relationship (metals in upper atmosphere)
- The right answer should focus on the study's findings and explanation while avoiding redundant information about what thermal inversions are
Heat-absorbing metals may reside in a planet's upper atmosphere.
✗ Incorrect
- Only presents the explanation, not the actual study finding
- Missing the core finding about the relationship between thermal inversions and metals
The team studied thermal inversions in twenty-five gas giants, which are largely composed of helium and hydrogen.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on study methodology rather than findings
- Defines gas giants which isn't the main point
- Doesn't mention the key finding about heat-absorbing metals
Researchers found that gas giants featuring a thermal inversion were likely to contain heat-absorbing metals, which may reside in the planets' upper atmospheres.
✓ Correct
- Presents the core finding (gas giants with thermal inversions likely contain heat-absorbing metals)
- Includes the explanation (metals in upper atmospheres)
- Doesn't waste space re-defining thermal inversions since audience already familiar
- Comprehensive coverage of the study's findings
Gas giants were likely to contain heat-absorbing metals when they featured a layer of atmosphere warmer than the layer beneath it, researchers found; this phenomenon is known as a thermal inversion.
✗ Incorrect
- Wastes space defining thermal inversions when the audience already knows about them
- Inefficient for the specified audience