Question

question 2
1 pts
in a 2020 paper, arya udry et al. cautioned that although similarities in the isotopic signatures of elements detected in mars’s atmosphere and in martian meteorites recovered on earth make it tempting to treat the geochemical properties of the meteorites as ______ those of mars’s interior, mars’s 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:

The sentence discusses using Martian meteorites to infer Mars's geology, but notes limitations. "Proxies for" means substitutes that represent something else, which fits—meteorites act as substitutes for direct samples of Mars's interior to study its geology. Other options don’t fit: "contrivances of" (devices), "catalysts of" (accelerators), and "deterrents to" (hindrances) are semantically incorrect here.

Answer:

A. proxies for