Key takeaways for Tackling a Science passage in RC ! MUST READ .

CAT Exam
“Prior to 1965 geologists assumed that the two giant rock plates meeting at the San Andreas Fault generate heat through friction as they grind past each other, but in 1965 Henyey found that temperatures in drill holes near the fault were not as elevated as had been expected. Some geologists wondered whether the absence of friction-generated heat could be explained by the kinds of rock composing the fault. Geologists’ pre-1965 assumptions concerning heat generated in the fault were based on calculations about common varieties of rocks, such as limestone and granite; but “weaker” materials, such as clays, had already been identified in samples retrieved from the fault zone. Under normal conditions, rocks composed of clay produce far less friction than do other rock types. “In 1992 Byerlee tested whether these materials would produce friction 10 to 15 kilometers below the Earth’s surface. Byerlee found that when clay samples were subjected to the thousands of atmospheres of pressure they would encounter deep inside the Earth, they produced as much friction as was produced by other rock types. The harder rocks push against each other, the hotter they become; in other words, pressure itself, not only the rocks’ properties, affects frictional heating. Geologists therefore wondered whether the friction between the plates was being reduced by pockets of pressurized water within the fault that push the plates away from each other.” “According to the passage, Henyey’s findings in 1965 were significant because they ? “(A) revealed an error in previous measurements of temperature in the San Andreas Fault zone “(B) indicated the types of clay present in the rocks that form the San Andreas Fault “(C) established the superiority of a particular technique for evaluating data concerning friction in the San Andreas Fault “(D) suggested that geologists had inaccurately assumed that giant rock plates that meet at the San Andreas Fault generate heat through friction “(E) confirmed geologists’ assumptions about the amount of friction generated by common varieties of rocks, such as limestone and granite” First, what kind of question is this one? The according to the passage language almost always signals a specific detail question; they’re asking you to find something that the passage directly said. Check the wording of the rest of the question to confirm that this really is what they want … yep, the passage gave some reason why H’s 1965 findings were significant and we have to find that reason. “Prior to 1965 geologists assumed that the two giant rock plates meeting at the San Andreas Fault generate heat through friction as they grind past each other, but in 1965 Henyey found that temperatures in drill holes near the fault were not as elevated as had been expected.” Put that in your own words. There was this theory that the rock plates generated heat through friction, but H’s experiment showed that the temperatures weren’t actually as high as they should have been if the theory were true. In other words, H’s results showed that the theory didn’t match reality. Which answer choice matches that idea? “(A) revealed an error in previous measurements of temperature in the San Andreas Fault zone” The passage doesn’t mention any prior measurements or experiments of any kind. H’s experiment is the earliest one discussed. Eliminate (A). “(B) indicated the types of clay present in the rocks that form the San Andreas Fault” H’s experiment showed only that the first theory wasn’t a good one. The geologists then came up with a new hypothesis to try to explain H’s results. But H’s results didn’t prove anything for that new hypothesis—rather, H’s results just disproved the old one. Eliminate (B). “(C) established the superiority of a particular technique for evaluating data concerning friction in the San Andreas Fault” Superiority implies a comparison, but the passage doesn’t mention multiple technique[s] for evaluating data concerning friction. It mentions only H’s experiment. They’re not saying H’s way was better than another way; they’re saying that H’s experiment showed that the first theory wasn’t right. Eliminate (C). “(D) suggested that geologists had inaccurately assumed that giant rock plates that meet at the San Andreas Fault generate heat through friction” This is it! If the theory (that the plates generated heat through friction) were true, then H should have found higher temperatures. He didn’t, so the theory wasn’t accurate. “(E) confirmed geologists’ assumptions about the amount of friction generated by common varieties of rocks, such as limestone and granite” This is a trap! The passage says the exact opposite: H’s results disproved the geologists’ first assumption; that’s why they had to change their original hypothesis. Eliminate (E). The correct answer is (D). That’s it. Let’s summarize the entire process for RC. Read the passage, jotting down a Passage Map as you go. Don’t get into all of the detail; the goal of your Map is to tell you what the high level ideas are. The CAT is an “open book” test—you can go back into the passage at any time to look up any detail you might need. When you’re done reading and jotting, articulate the basic story to yourself. Next, look at the question. Your first task is to identify the question type. That will help you to know what kind of analysis you need to do in order to answer the question. Second, find the proof. Figure out what you need to re-read in the passage in order to answer the question. (Do NOT skip this step. Do NOT rely on your memory. Be systematic: Re-read the needed material.) Third, read that text and, if possible, use it to formulate your own answer to the question. Your wording almost certainly won’t match the wording of the correct answer, but that’s fine. You’re just trying to make clear to yourself the general message you want to see in the correct answer. Fourth, eliminate wrong answers and find a match! Look at how much work comes before you get to look at the answers. Figure out what’s going on with the question first and you’ll have an easier time processing the answers. Key Takeaways for RC (1) Follow the process. Don’t skip steps! (2) On your read-through, go for the big ideas and the main contrasts or twists. Don’t get into annoying detail. Jot down an abbreviated Map to help you navigate the passage later, when you’re answering questions. By the time you’re done, you will be able to articulate the Simple Story of the passage. (3) Know what kind of question type you have, as each type is asking you to perform a different kind of analysis. Find the proof text in the passage (or in your Map) and try to articulate what you want the correct answer to say before you look at the answer choices. Finally, work from wrong to right: cross off the wrong answers until you have just one left.
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