GRE General TestVerbal ReasoningHard
A climatologist explained that while short-term weather patterns can be highly ______ and difficult to predict with precision, long-term climate trends often exhibit remarkable stability, allowing for more reliable projections over decades or centuries.
- Avolatile
- Bconsistent
- Cimmutable
- Dstagnant
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. volatile
The sentence contrasts 'short-term weather patterns' with 'long-term climate trends.' The long-term trends 'exhibit remarkable stability,' allowing for 'more reliable projections.' Therefore, the short-term patterns must be the opposite: unstable and unpredictable. 'Volatile' means liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse. This directly fits 'difficult to predict with precision' and contrasts 'stability.'
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Consistent means acting or done in the same way over time, which is the opposite of the intended meaning for short-term patterns.
- C. Immutable means unchanging over time or unable to be changed, which is the opposite of what's described for short-term patterns.
- D. Stagnant means showing no activity or development, which is contrary to 'difficult to predict with precision'.
Temporal Contrast (Stability vs. Variability)
This concept involves identifying words that describe differing degrees of change or predictability over different time scales (e.g., short-term variability vs. long-term stability).
- Look for temporal markers (e.g., 'short-term', 'long-term', 'decades', 'centuries').
- Identify the contrasting characteristics associated with each time scale (e.g., 'difficult to predict' vs. 'remarkable stability').
- Choose a word that accurately describes the variability or instability of the shorter time frame.
Memory trick: Short views blur, long views clear.