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To the editor: In 1960, an astronomer proposed a [#permalink]
 29 Sep 2005, 14:48
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To the editor:
In 1960, an astronomer proposed a mathematical model for determining whether extraterrestrial life exists. It was based on the assumptions that life as we know it could exist only on a planet and that many stars are, like our Sun, orbited by planets. On the basis that there are nine panets in our solar system and one of them has life as we know it, the astonomer predicted that there are as many as one million extraterrestrial civilizations accross all solar systems. Yet astronomers to date have not detected even one planet outside our solar system. This indicates that the astronomer's model is wrong, and life as we know it exists only on the planet Earth.
--- Clay Moltz ---
Which one of the following, if accepted by Clay Moltz, would require him to reconsider his conclusion ?
A. Forms of life other than life as we know it exist on other planets.
B. There are many stars that are not orbited by planets.
C. Detecting planets outside our solar system requires more sophisticated instruments than are currently available.
D. The soundness of the conclusion reached by applying a mathematical model depends on the soundness of the assumptions on which the model is based.
E. Due to sheer distances and expanses of space involved, any extraterrestrial civilization would have great difficulty communicating with ours.
OA to follow
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VP
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C. Clay, the reason we couldnt find other planets with life is because we do not have sofisticated enough instruments. they may well exists.
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SVP
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I think it is B.
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hey ya......
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Intern
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I pick C
Conclusion: astronomer's model is wrong, and life as we know it exists only on the planet Earth
Conclusion based on the fact: astronomers to date have not detected even one planet outside our solar system
Answer choice C gives another explaination of why astronomers have not detected even one planet outside our solar system that will weaken the conclusion.
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D because if the assumption on which the model is built is not sound, then the conclusion of the model wont be sound either.
A is wrong because forms of life as we know it is what we are concerned about not other forms of life.
B is wrong because it is irrelevant
C is wrong becuase planet detection is not the issue here, it's detecting life as we know it in planets outside our solar system
E is out of scope
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Current Student
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C is wrong because it compares technology of today to that of 1960.
B is consistent with the passage.
A and E are irrelevant.
Therefore D.
How could such a conclusion be made without an accurate model which employed 1960 technology and was based on sound assumptions at the time???
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Manager
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C please post OA
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Manager
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I think it is C for same reasons as kk1234
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Re: CR - Astronomer (GMATPlus Test 1 #37 ) [#permalink]
30 Sep 2005, 06:40
C is the correct answer. The conclusion is based on the fact that because the astronomers haven't detected it, it can't be true. Thus, we need an answer which suggest that astronomers may not know enough to be 100% accurate.
C. Detecting planets outside our solar system requires more sophisticated instruments than are currently available.
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IMO it is between C and E
I am not sure how to reject E....
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OA is C.
Unfortunately I dont have OE.
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Manager
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ranga41, E does not say anything that contradicts the theory. We need a statement that tells us that we have not discovered any planet for a reason, but that those planets can exist and therefore the astronomers argument can still hold.
E is irrelevant as the text does not say anything about communication between civilizations.
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jdtomatito wrote: ranga41, E does not say anything that contradicts the theory. We need a statement that tells us that we have not discovered any planet for a reason, but that those planets can exist and therefore the astronomers argument can still hold.
E is irrelevant as the text does not say anything about communication between civilizations.
Agreed,
Thanks
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