Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. A climate sceptic has said that it is now time to end the debate over whether global warming is real after the most definite study into temperature data gathered by weather stations over the past half - century. Professor Richard Muller, a physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, who has been an outspoken critic of the science underpinning global warming, said that there is little doubt in his mind the phenomenon of rising land temperatures is real. Over the past two years, he has chaired a group of scientists who have carried out an exhaustive analysis of more than 1.6 billion temperature recordings collected from more than 39,000 weather stations at land sites around the world. The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (Best) study was set up to test the findings of other studies and was part funded by US billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch. "When we began our study, we felt that sceptics had raised legitimate issues, and we didn't know what we'd find. Our results turned out to be close to those published by prior groups. We think that means that those groups had truly been very careful in their work. Despite their inability to convince some sceptics of that, :Professor Muller said.
'Exhaustive' in the context of the passage means:
complete
Understanding the Meaning of 'Exhaustive' in the Passage
The question asks for the meaning of the word 'exhaustive' based on its use in the provided passage about a climate study. To determine the meaning, we need to look at the sentence where the word appears and understand the surrounding context.
Contextual Analysis of 'Exhaustive'
The passage states:
"Over the past two years, he has chaired a group of scientists who have carried out an exhaustive analysis of more than 1.6 billion temperature recordings collected from more than 39,000 weather stations at land sites around the world."
Here, 'exhaustive' describes the type of 'analysis' conducted by the scientists. The analysis involved a very large number of data points: over 1.6 billion recordings from over 39,000 stations. When an analysis includes such a vast amount of data, it implies a very thorough, complete, or comprehensive examination.
Evaluating the Options
Let's consider the given options:
- competititve: This word relates to competition or rivalry. It does not fit the context of analyzing data.
- complete: This word means including all elements or aspects of something; thorough. This meaning aligns well with the description of the analysis covering a huge amount of data from numerous sources.
- concept: A concept is an abstract idea or notion. It is not a description of the analysis itself.
- compact: This word means closely and neatly packed together; small. This is the opposite of what is implied by an analysis dealing with billions of recordings from thousands of stations.
Based on the context, the analysis described was clearly thorough and covered all or nearly all available data, making it 'complete' or 'comprehensive'.
Conclusion
In the context of the passage, 'exhaustive analysis' refers to a very thorough and complete analysis. Therefore, the word 'exhaustive' in this passage means 'complete'.
| Word | Contextual Use | Inferred Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaustive | Describing an analysis of >1.6 billion recordings from >39,000 stations | Thorough, Complete, Comprehensive |
Revision Table: Key Terms and Concepts
| Term | Definition/Meaning | Application in Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Sceptic | A person who doubts the widely accepted view that global warming is happening or is caused by human activity. | Professor Richard Muller was initially described as one. |
| Global Warming | The observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system. | The main topic of the study discussed in the passage. |
| Exhaustive | Thorough and comprehensive; including or considering all elements or aspects. | Used to describe the detailed analysis of temperature data. |
| Analysis | Detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation. | The core process undertaken by the scientists in the study. |
Additional Information: Understanding Vocabulary in Context
Understanding vocabulary in context is a crucial skill for reading comprehension. When you encounter an unfamiliar word, look at the words and sentences around it. Ask yourself:
- What is the main topic of the sentence or paragraph?
- What kind of word is it (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)?
- What is the word describing or how is it being used?
- Can you infer the meaning based on the actions, descriptions, or ideas presented with the word?
- Can you substitute one of the option words into the sentence? Does it make sense?
In this case, 'exhaustive' is an adjective describing the 'analysis'. The description of the analysis as covering a huge amount of data strongly suggests a meaning related to thoroughness or completeness, allowing us to correctly identify 'complete' as the most suitable synonym among the options.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
