Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Question #1190
Test your problem-solving accuracy on this official-caliber item. Select an answer choice to check your reasoning instantly.
Carefully identify the core mechanism described in the hypothesis: how does decreasing albedo lead to warming? Pinpoint the specific steps involved.
To 'most directly challenge' a hypothesis, look for an option that undermines a fundamental assumption or a critical causal link *within* the proposed mechanism, rather than just offering an alternative explanation or limiting the scope of the effect.
⚡ When asked to 'most directly challenge' a hypothesis that describes a *mechanism* leading to an *effect*, look for an option that directly undermines a crucial step or assumption *within that mechanism*. The hypothesis here is: Ice melts -> darker surface -> *absorbs more solar energy* -> warms. Options that introduce alternative causes (B, C) are usually distractors unless the hypothesis explicitly claims exclusivity. Options that limit the *scope* (A) are weaker than options that challenge the *fundamental effectiveness* of the mechanism itself (D). Focus on the *causal link* described in the hypothesis and find the option that breaks or weakens that link most directly. In this case, the link is 'darker surface absorbs more solar energy, leading to warming.' Option D directly questions the 'absorbs more solar energy' part.
The core hypothesis is that 'decreasing albedo due to Arctic ice melt significantly contributes to global warming' through the ice-albedo feedback loop. This loop is described as: ice melts -> darker ocean water/land is exposed -> this dark...
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