Reading comp PrepTest 116 · Section 1 · Question 4

Topic: Science

Paragraph 1

• Paragraph note
  • Generalization/Problem; example previewed
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author’s view on generalization/problem:
    • Science lags behind oil drilling, so undesirable events happen before regulation
  • Example of problem:
    • Groundwater contamination
  • Author’s attitude: “relied on hindsight” (line 5); “undesirable events” (line 7); “problems” (line 7)

Paragraph 2

• Paragraph note
  • Groundwater example: Early examples of regulations
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Example of problem with oil drilling:
    • Beginning of commercial drilling (~1893) - Regulations protected oil from groundwater, not other way around
    • This led to the contamination of drinking-water wells
  • Author’s attitude: “no thought was given” (line 18)

Paragraph 3

• Paragraph note
  • Groundwater example: Cause of problem; attempts at solution
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Comparison:
    • Groundwater at shallower depth than oil/saline water
  • Cause-and-effect relationship:
    • Groundwater connected to oil and salt water, causing them to mix
  • Comparison of attempted solutions:
    • Sealing off groundwater — started with hollow trees, now with metal tubes with cement

Paragraph 4

• Paragraph note
  • Author: Problems with that solution
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author’s view:
    • Lack of knowledge means there might be problems
  • Examples of potential problems, according to the author:
    • Barriers may corrode, cement may dissolve; effects of bacteria/vibrations/chemistry are unknown
    • West Coast oil well had poor understanding of local geology and contaminated sea (caused international uproar)

Main Point: Attempts to regulate the oil industry are largely based on hindsight because so much of the science involved is still unknown, a problem illustrated by the issues associated with groundwater contamination by oil wells.

Lines 4-7 - A generalization of problems present in an industry is presented

Line 18-22 - An example illustrating the generalization is described

Lines 28-33 - The cause of the problem in the example is described

Lines 38-41 - The author introduces an attempted solution (still in use)

Lines 45-52 - Examples of potential problems with the solution

Generalization/Example: That this passage uses the Generalization/Example Meta-Structure becomes apparent with the last few words of Paragraph 1: “[Groundwater problems] provide a case in point.” That ending to the first paragraph tells us that the author is going to explore this one example to illustrate the generalization that they just made. This structure is reinforced as we read through the rest of the passage and see that the author doesn’t stray from a discussion of this example. When this Meta-Structure is present, the generalization is the main point, and the correct main point answer usually (but not always) references the specific example highlighted. So, here, the main point should reflect the author’s generalization that attempts to regulate the problems associated with the oil industry rely too heavily on hindsight, which is a major problem for this regulation. This leads us to our second primary Meta-Structure ...

Examples: Outside of the example that illustrates the author’s main point/generalization, the passage itself presents several examples of smaller points. Paragraph 2 presents a specific example of oil wells contaminating groundwater. Lines 45-52 provide examples of potential problems that could arise from an attempt to solve groundwater contamination that we don’t know enough about. And Line 55 introduces an example of regulations failing to protect groundwater. These are all potential sources of information for a question or two, so we should have them highlighted/underlined or noted.

Many test-takers might conclude that this passage utilizes a Problem/Solution Meta-Structure, so let’s discuss that. The author does present a general problem — regulating the oil industry, which is difficult because the science lags behind the actual drilling of wells (Lines 1-7). The author then dives into a specific problem — groundwater contamination (Lines 7-10). Normally, when this Meta-Structure is present, the author’s solution is the main point. However, there’s a wrinkle here! The author doesn’t present a solution to the overall problem — only an attempted solution to the example problem. In Paragraph 3, the author talks about how the industry has tried to prevent groundwater contamination. The author isn’t sold on it being a complete or permanent solution (Lines 44-45), and this specific attempted solution doesn’t speak to a solution to the overall problem of the science lagging behind the practice of drilling oil wells. Becuase the author only discusses a solution to the “example” problem and not the “general” problem, we think the entire passage is better understood as a Generalization/Example passage, rather than a Problem/Solution passage. At any rate,, the main point shouldn’t include the author’s feelings on the solution for the “example” problem. The main point should reflect the author’s argument that the “general” problem doesn’t currently have a solution.

While we don’t think this passage uses a traditional Problem/Solution Meta-Structure, reflecting on how the problem and solution interact with the Generalization/Example Meta-Structure helps us appreciate the nuance in this passage. The author presents a general problem before discussing a specific example of it and a solution to that specific example. So, it’s important to know that the “example” solution isn’t a part of the main point of the passage — especially because the author doesn’t believe it’s a complete or permanent solution.