medium · SAT Reading & Writing
Atmospheric scientists have noted that while the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which warms the planet, it also releases aerosols that reflect sunlight and have a temporary cooling effect. Some researchers suggest that this cooling effect is currently masking a portion of the true warming potential of greenhouse gases. As these aerosols are removed through air quality regulations, the underlying warming trend may accelerate.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence as a whole?
- It argues that fossil fuels should be burned more frequently to ensure the planet remains cool.
- It explains how one environmental factor may be obscuring the full impact of another.
- It proves that air quality regulations are the primary cause of global climate change.
- It provides a chemical analysis of the specific molecules found in volcanic aerosols.
Sign up free to see the explanation and track your rank →
More SAT Reading & Writing practice
- The use of bioluminescence in marine organisms, such as the deep-sea anglerfish, serves…
- In her 1977 book 'On Photography', Susan Sontag argues that the act of taking a picture…
- The painter Mary Cassatt is often celebrated for her depictions of the private lives of…
- Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- The study of deep-sea hydrothermal vents has revealed a unique ecosystem that does not…
- Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- The following text is from a literary analysis of the poet Emily Dickinson. Dickinson's…
- Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
All Reading & Writing questions · SAT study guide · SAT glossary · SAT flashcards