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Information and IdeasMediumFinding supporting a claim about a glacier's retreat

Information and Ideas practice question

A climatologist claims that the glacier has retreated substantially over the past century.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the climatologist's claim?

  1. A. A photograph taken from a fixed viewpoint in 1920 shows the glacier's snout two kilometres further down the valley than a photograph from the same viewpoint taken in 2020.Correct
  2. B. The glacier is a popular destination for hikers.
  3. C. A river flows out of the valley below the glacier.
  4. D. The glacier is one of dozens in the mountain range.

Answer: A. A photograph taken from a fixed viewpoint in 1920 shows the glacier's snout two kilometres further down the valley than a photograph from the same viewpoint taken in 2020.

Matched photographs a century apart showing the snout two kilometres higher up the valley are direct evidence of retreat.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The glacier is a popular destination for hikers.
Popularity says nothing about the glacier's size.
C. A river flows out of the valley below the glacier.
Glaciers commonly feed rivers; this doesn't show change.
D. The glacier is one of dozens in the mountain range.
Being one of many says nothing about retreat.

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