Text 1: Physicist Dr. Sarah Kim explains entropy. "Systems naturally tend toward disorder," Kim writes. "The second law of thermodynamics shows entropy increases in isolated systems. Order requires energy input."
Text 2: Biologist Dr. Robert Park discusses life's organization. "Living systems maintain and increase local order," Park notes. "Evolution produces complex organisms. Life seems to defy entropy, though it ultimately increases global entropy."
How does Park reconcile life's organization with Kim's entropy principle?
By claiming the second law is false
By noting life increases local order while increasing global entropy
By arguing living systems are isolated
By denying that organisms are complex
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Park explains that life creates local order but "ultimately increases global entropy." The apparent paradox is resolved by distinguishing local and global scales.
- Evidence: Park: local order, global entropy increase.
- Reasoning: Life isn't an isolated system—energy flows through it.
- Conclusion: Local organization compatible with global entropy increase.
Choice A is incorrect because Park accepts thermodynamics. Choice C is incorrect because living systems exchange energy. Choice D is incorrect because Park emphasizes complexity.