Bacteria And Archaea, Collectively Known As Prokaryotes GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: Bacteria and archaea, collectively known as prokaryotes, are present on every continent and make up around half of global biomass -- the total weight of all organisms on Earth. Most prokaryotes perform respiration that uses energy and releases carbon dioxide, contributing to climate warming. Therefore, as global temperatures rise, prokaryotes could increase climate warming at a faster rate than current models suggest.

Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?

  1. The relationship between temperature and the prokaryote’s carbon output is inversely proportional
  2. The amount of carbon dioxide released by a prokaryote in a given period of time depends on its weight.
  3. The carbon output of the prokaryote during a given time period depends on its respiration rate, which is positively correlated to changes in temperature.
  4. Some prokaryotes will increase their carbon output in response to higher temperatures.
  5. The relationship between temperature and the prokaryote’s respiration rate is inversely proportional

Answer: C
Explanation
:

Given that Prokaryotes—bacteria and archaea—are found on every continent and make up half of world biomass. Most prokaryotes respire and emit carbon dioxide, warming the planet. Thus, prokaryotes may accelerate global warming faster than current models predict.

Let's approach the answer choices.

A: Incorrect
The term "inversely proportional" indicates that if one entity increases by a certain amount, the other entity decreases by the same amount. Therefore, if the temperature rises, carbon emissions will decrease. This should result in a smaller contribution to global warming, and it cannot contribute to a faster rate of warming. This option genuinely calls the conclusion into question.

B: Incorrect
Prokaryotes account for fifty percent of the biomass's mass. Thus, carbon dioxide emissions would be proportional to this at any given time. This does not explain why the rate of global warming would accelerate. The total mass of the prokaryotes remains unchanged. This option is merely a distortion of the provided data.

C: Correct
"Positively correlated" indicates that when one variable increases, the other variable also increases. According to this option, a rise in temperature causes an increase in respiratory rate. And a rise in respiration rate equals a rise in carbon output.This option is the response to both of the evaluate questions that we formulated in advance. This option would increase our confidence in the conclusion.

D: Incorrect
In a population of 100, "some" could be a very small number or a very large number, ranging from 1 to 99. Consequently, this choice will have ambiguous consequences. With such a limited sample size, the option does not increase our confidence in the conclusion. Only a large number would perform such an action. Due to the ambiguous impact, this option must be rejected.

E: Incorrect
The respiration rate decreases as the temperature rises. Ideally, although we do not know for certain, a decrease in respiration rate should result in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. This should result in a smaller contribution to global warming, and it cannot contribute to a faster rate of warming. This option genuinely calls the conclusion into question.

“Bacteria and archaea, collectively known as prokaryotes” – is a GMAT Critical 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.

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