Question:
According to the passage [from question 32], which of the following best describes most ozone-depleting chemicals in 1996 as compared to those in 1987?
According to the passage [from question 32], which of the following best describes most ozone-depleting chemicals in 1996 as compared to those in 1987?
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For "according to the passage" questions, always go back to the text and find the exact sentence or phrase that supports your answer. Be wary of answer choices that use absolute words like "all" or "none," or that misinterpret specific quantifiers like "some" vs. "most."
Updated On: Sep 30, 2025
- The levels of such chemicals in the atmosphere had decreased
- The number of such chemicals that reached the atmosphere had declined
- The amounts of such chemicals released had increased but the amounts that reached the atmosphere had decreased
- The rate of increase in amounts of such chemicals reaching the atmosphere had decreased.
- The rate at which such chemicals were being reduced in the atmosphere had slowed.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires you to locate a specific detail in the passage from question 32 and choose the answer choice that paraphrases it most accurately. The passage was written in 1996, and the protocol was signed in 1987, so the question is asking about the effect of the protocol.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The relevant sentence in the passage is: "[The Montreal Protocol] has attained its short-term goals: it has decreased the rate of increase in amounts of most ozone-depleting chemicals reaching the atmosphere and has even reduced the atmospheric levels of some of them."
The question asks about "most" ozone-depleting chemicals. The first part of the sentence directly addresses this.
- (A) is incorrect. The passage says the levels of only "*some*" of them had decreased, not most.
- (B) is incorrect. The passage refers to the "amounts" or "levels," not the "number" (variety) of chemicals.
- (C) is incorrect. The passage does not state that the amounts released had increased.
- (D) is a nearly perfect paraphrase of the first part of the key sentence: "it has decreased the rate of increase in amounts of most... chemicals". This means the amounts were still growing, but more slowly than before.
- (E) is incorrect. The passage does not mention the rate of reduction slowing down.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The passage explicitly states that for most chemicals, the rate of increase had slowed down. This corresponds to option (D).
This question requires you to locate a specific detail in the passage from question 32 and choose the answer choice that paraphrases it most accurately. The passage was written in 1996, and the protocol was signed in 1987, so the question is asking about the effect of the protocol.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The relevant sentence in the passage is: "[The Montreal Protocol] has attained its short-term goals: it has decreased the rate of increase in amounts of most ozone-depleting chemicals reaching the atmosphere and has even reduced the atmospheric levels of some of them."
The question asks about "most" ozone-depleting chemicals. The first part of the sentence directly addresses this.
- (A) is incorrect. The passage says the levels of only "*some*" of them had decreased, not most.
- (B) is incorrect. The passage refers to the "amounts" or "levels," not the "number" (variety) of chemicals.
- (C) is incorrect. The passage does not state that the amounts released had increased.
- (D) is a nearly perfect paraphrase of the first part of the key sentence: "it has decreased the rate of increase in amounts of most... chemicals". This means the amounts were still growing, but more slowly than before.
- (E) is incorrect. The passage does not mention the rate of reduction slowing down.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The passage explicitly states that for most chemicals, the rate of increase had slowed down. This corresponds to option (D).
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