PrepTest 125

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Highest mountains are formed from colliding tectonic plates, which are then worn down by wind and rain. But the highest mountain ranges also have the most prevalent wind/rain.

Answer Anticipation:
As with all Paradox questions, we should start by clearly stating the paradox. While there is a lot of information about mountains here, we should focus on that "Yet" statement, since that's a keyword that indicates a paradoxical piece of information is about to be introduced.

That statement says that the highest mountain ranges are also where erosive forces are most prevalent. Why is this unexpected? Because these erosive forces wear the mountains down. Presumably, the more wind/rain there is, the more these mountains would be worn down—thus no longer being among the highest mountain ranges.

So what could explain this correlation? You may start to think that it could do with location, but that has a problem with it. If the highest mountain is eroded down by these forces, but the forces are based on the location, then the forces would continue to be just as strong at a mountain that isn't the highest. That breaks the correlation and thus doesn't explain the stimulus.

Instead, there must be something true about the highest mountains that results in these forces being prevalent that then dissipates as they get eroded and are therefore not as high. This is hinted at by the comparative nature of the stimulus ("highest", "most prevalent"). Let's find an answer establishing such a difference.

Answer Explanation:
This answer establishes that the height itself of these mountains causes the prevalence of the wind and rain. If that's the case, it explains why these forces are the most prevalent at these mountains. It also explains how those forces are less prevalent as the mountain erodes away—that would decrease the differences in elevation in the mountain, thus lowering the forces. This answer provides a relevant difference that explains the discrepancy in erosive forces, so it's the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Always be sure to clearly define the paradox in a Paradox question. Without knowing what you're trying to explain, you're much more likely to fall prey to a trap answer.

Incorrect. While this answer might explain why erosion happens faster on the highest mountain ranges, it doesn't explain why the erosive forces are most prevalent there.

Incorrect. The formation process isn't tied to the erosive forces in the stimulus, and this answer doesn't do so, so it's out of scope. This is an example of an answer that is much easier to eliminate when you've identified the paradox and found that information in the stimulus is unrelated to it (here, how the mountains are formed).

Incorrect. This answer doesn't tie this variation into when the area has the highest mountain ranges. Even if it did, it doesn't explain why this amount changes and coincides with the height of mountain ranges.

Incorrect. This answer might explain another force that results in the shrinking of a mountain, but it doesn't address the erosive forces.