Lines 26–27 state that alchemists believed base metals could be purified “under certain astrological conditions,” but we
never learn what these conditions are. All the other questions are answered: (B) in the final sentence of paragraph 1; (C) in
lines 41–42; (D) in lines 28–29; and (E) in the first sentence of paragraph 3.
J
The author sums up his point of view on alchemy at the end of the passage—though not practiced today, alchemy “provided
the basis for some of the most fascinating chapters in the history of science.” (F) and (H) are wrong because the passage
argues that alchemy did contribute to the development of science. (K) is a point of view that the author contradicts in
paragraph 1. And (G) distorts lines 8–11; sure, the alchemists left us some valuable apparatuses and procedures. But their
basic principles have been disproved.
32.
D
Passage III is a science passage about underwater ecosystems. Paragraph 1 explains that most ecosystems on our planet
depend upon the light of the sun. Through the process of photosynthesis, the sun provides energy for plants and algae, which
in turn provide energy for animals higher up the food chain. Towards the end of the paragraph, however, we’re told that a
new type of ecosystem has been discovered in deep-sea areas, where the first link in the food chain is provided by bacteria
that are dependent on energy from within the earth itself. Paragraph 2 describes how these “chemosynthetic” bacteria
develop. Paragraph 3 tells us a bit about the sea life that inhabits these deep sea oases.
The passage is about the newly discovered “chemosynthetic” ecosystems described in paragraphs 2 and 3. Wrong choice (A)
is way too broad. The origins of life on earth are mentioned at the end of paragraph 1, but the passage doesn’t really address
this difficult topic. (B) is wrong because it’s chemosynthesis, not photosynthesis, that the author is most interested in. (C)
describes paragraph 3, but it doesn’t cover the passage as a whole. (E), like (A), is too broad—the author’s not writing about
the whole eastern Pacific.
33.
J
Lines 1–3 provide the answer here; we’re told that “most life is fundamentally dependent on photosynthetic organisms that
store radiant energy from the sun.” So it’s light from the sun (J), not bacterial microorganisms (H), that powers most life on
earth.
34.
B
Paragraph 1 describes the contrast that makes the chemosynthetic ecosystems “unique”—most life on earth depends on the
sun’s energy, but chemosynthetic ecosystems depend on energy provided from within the earth itself. Choice (B) expresses
this idea best. (A) distorts the passage—it’s not that chemosynthetic ecosystems have no need for a source of energy. (C) is
illogical—these deep-sea ecosystems are plainly not airless and waterless. (D) is not mentioned as a feature that makes
chemosynthetic ecosystems unique, and we’re not told if these are the only ecosystems found at these depths (E).
35.
J
The keyword here is “surprisingly.” Scientists in a submarine found something they weren’t looking for in 1977—namely, a
unique, previously unknown ecosystem 7,000 feet underwater in a volcanically active area. Thus, (K) is best. (F) is
36.
