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Difficulty: MediumParaphrased Fact Recognition

To safeguard steel vessel hulls against galvanic corrosion in saltwater environments, marine technicians mount sacrificial zinc anodes along the submerged plating. Because zinc possesses a lower electrochemical potential than structural steel, the seawater electrolyte causes the zinc to oxidize and dissolve preferentially. This chemical sacrifice supplies electrons to the hull, maintaining the steel as a protected cathode. For optimal defense, technicians must ensure direct, bare metal-to-metal contact between the anode and the vessel. Applying marine antifouling paint over the zinc insulates its surface, halting the protective electrical current and leaving the nearby steel susceptible to aggressive structural pitting.

Based on the passage, what is the consequence of applying antifouling paint over a sacrificial zinc anode?

  1. A
    It establishes direct, bare metal-to-metal contact by sealing the submerged plating.
  2. It creates an insulating barrier that interrupts the protective electrical current, exposing the adjacent metal to destructive pitting.Answer
  3. C
    It accelerates the rate at which the chemical sacrifice supplies electrons to the protected cathode.
  4. D
    It contaminates the marine ecosystem by releasing toxic chemical solvents into the saltwater.

Answer

It creates an insulating barrier that interrupts the protective electrical current, exposing the adjacent metal to destructive pitting.
The correct response accurately restates the factual consequence mentioned in the final sentence of the passage. The text explains that painting the zinc anode insulates its surface, stops the protective current from flowing, and leaves the steel prone to pitting. The correct option expresses this exact sequence of facts using synonyms ('insulating barrier', 'interrupts', 'adjacent metal', 'destructive pitting') without copying verbatim phrases.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the specific target fact regarding antifouling paint in the paragraph.
Identified the statement: 'Applying marine antifouling paint over the zinc insulates its surface, halting the protective electrical current and leaving the nearby steel susceptible to aggressive structural pitting.'
The question asks directly for the specific outcome when paint is applied over the zinc anode.
2
Map key concepts from the passage to accurate synonymous equivalents.
'Insulates its surface' maps to 'creates an insulating barrier', 'halting the protective electrical current' maps to 'interrupts the protective electrical current', and 'leaving the nearby steel susceptible to aggressive structural pitting' maps to 'exposing the adjacent metal to destructive pitting.'
Recognizing accurate paraphrasing requires identifying equivalent semantic meaning rather than relying on exact word-for-word repetition.
3
Filter out distractors that invert causality, use verbatim traps, or rely on outside knowledge.
Eliminated options using exact phrasing out of context, reversing the effect on electron flow, or assuming unstated environmental impacts.
Standard assessment reading comprehension items often test the ability to separate genuine paraphrased facts from superficial verbatim traps.

Key Concept

Paraphrased Fact Recognition
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Paraphrased Fact Recognition

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