Question

in a 2020 paper, arya udry et al. cautioned that although similarities in the isotopic signatures of elements detected in marss atmosphere and in martian meteorites recovered on earth make it tempting to treat the geochemical properties of the meteorites as______those of marss interiors, marss geology cannot be ascertained based solely on meteorite - sample analyses. which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? a proxies for b contrivances of c catalysts of d deterrents to

Explanation:

Let's analyze each option:

• Option A: "proxies for" means substitutes or representatives. Since there are similarities between the isotopic signatures in Mars' atmosphere and Martian meteorites, it makes sense that one might consider the meteorites as substitutes (proxies) for Mars' interiors.
• Option B: "contrivances of" means inventions or artificial creations. Meteorites are not artificial creations related to Mars' interiors in this context.
• Option C: "catalysts of" means substances that cause a chemical reaction. This has no relevance to the relationship between meteorites and Mars' interiors described in the text.
• Option D: "deterrents to" means things that discourage. This is the opposite of what the text implies (the text implies a connection, not a discouraging factor).

Answer:

A. proxies for