Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Nov 2007:30 AM PST
-08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 2211:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment- Nov 23
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease. 
Nov 2510:00 AM EST
-11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.
Updated on: 09 Oct 2019, 23:19
Originally posted by Sajjad1994 on 04 Dec 2018, 22:01.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 09 Oct 2019, 23:19, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 09 Oct 2019, 23:19, edited 1 time in total.
Updated - Complete topic (897).
Kudos
Bookmarks
Question 1
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
61% (02:25) correct
39%
(02:18) wrong
based on 667
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
69% (00:56) correct 31%
(01:12) wrong
based on 616
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
50% (01:16) correct 50%
(01:16) wrong
based on 645
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A supernova is a brief stellar explosion so luminous that it can briefly outshine an entire galaxy. While the explosion itself takes less than fifteen seconds, supernovae take weeks or months to fade from view; during that time, a supernova can emit an amount of energy equivalent to the amount of energy the Sun is expected to radiate over its entire lifespan. Supernovae generate enough heat to create heavy elements, such as mercury, gold, and silver. Although supernovae explode frequently, few of them are visible (from Earth) to the naked eye.
In 1604 in Padua, Italy, a supernova became visible, appearing as a star so bright that it was visible in daylight for more than a year. Galileo, who lectured at the university, gave several lectures widely attended by the public. The lectures not only sought to explain the origin of the "star" (some posited that perhaps it was merely "vapour near the Earth"), but seriously undermined the views of many philosophers that the heavens were unchangeable. This idea was foundational to a worldview underpinned by a central and all-important Earth, with celestial bodies merely rotating around it.
In 1604 in Padua, Italy, a supernova became visible, appearing as a star so bright that it was visible in daylight for more than a year. Galileo, who lectured at the university, gave several lectures widely attended by the public. The lectures not only sought to explain the origin of the "star" (some posited that perhaps it was merely "vapour near the Earth"), but seriously undermined the views of many philosophers that the heavens were unchangeable. This idea was foundational to a worldview underpinned by a central and all-important Earth, with celestial bodies merely rotating around it.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) give the history of supernovae.
(B) describe a shift in thought as a result of a natural event.
(C) juxtapose two opposing views about supernovae.
(D) corroborate the view that the Earth is not central to the universe.
(E) explain how science and philosophy interrelate.
(A) give the history of supernovae.
(B) describe a shift in thought as a result of a natural event.
(C) juxtapose two opposing views about supernovae.
(D) corroborate the view that the Earth is not central to the universe.
(E) explain how science and philosophy interrelate.
2. Which of the following can be inferred by the passage:
I. Supernovae can take over a year to fade from view.
II. Prior to 1604, no one had even seen a supernova.
III. Galileo convinced philosophers of the incorrectness of their views.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II
(D) II and III
(E) I, II, and III
I. Supernovae can take over a year to fade from view.
II. Prior to 1604, no one had even seen a supernova.
III. Galileo convinced philosophers of the incorrectness of their views.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II
(D) II and III
(E) I, II, and III
3. The author mentions which of the following as a result of the supernova of 1604?
(A) The supernova created and dispersed the heavy elements out of which the Earth and everything on it is made.
(B) Galileo explained the origin of the supernova.
(C) The public was interested in hearing lectures about the phenomenon.
(D) Galileo's lectures were opposed by philosophers.
(E) Those who thought the supernova was "vapour" were proved wrong.
(A) The supernova created and dispersed the heavy elements out of which the Earth and everything on it is made.
(B) Galileo explained the origin of the supernova.
(C) The public was interested in hearing lectures about the phenomenon.
(D) Galileo's lectures were opposed by philosophers.
(E) Those who thought the supernova was "vapour" were proved wrong.
277
21 Apr 2019, 18:14
Kudos
Bookmarks
Official Explanation
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
Choice (A) is wrong because it does not mention the main content of paragraph 2, the ideas and assumptions that became controversial. It is also much too broad— giving a history of supernovae would take a lot more than two paragraphs.
Choice (B) is correct— the passage does describe a “shift in thought” (from an unchangeable “heavens” to a more scientific view), and this shift (at least among intellectuals in Padua) was prompted by a “natural event” (the supernova).
Choice (C) is attractive (“juxtapose” means to put next to one another or to compare), but does not describe the main idea. While Galileo and the philosophers certainly had different views about the bright light they saw in the sky, it’s not clear that you can say that the philosophers had “views about supernovae” in general. It is also clear from the historical aspect of the passage (Galileo clearly “won”) that the purpose is to give a history of a breakthrough in thinking about a topic in astronomy.
Choice (D) can be stricken simply due to “corroborate” (to prove true or support with evidence). The passage is describing, not making an argument.
Finally, choice (E) is much too broad! You could spend an entire career discussing “how science and philosophy interrelate.” This passage covers a much more narrow topic.
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
Choice (A) is wrong because it does not mention the main content of paragraph 2, the ideas and assumptions that became controversial. It is also much too broad— giving a history of supernovae would take a lot more than two paragraphs.
Choice (B) is correct— the passage does describe a “shift in thought” (from an unchangeable “heavens” to a more scientific view), and this shift (at least among intellectuals in Padua) was prompted by a “natural event” (the supernova).
Choice (C) is attractive (“juxtapose” means to put next to one another or to compare), but does not describe the main idea. While Galileo and the philosophers certainly had different views about the bright light they saw in the sky, it’s not clear that you can say that the philosophers had “views about supernovae” in general. It is also clear from the historical aspect of the passage (Galileo clearly “won”) that the purpose is to give a history of a breakthrough in thinking about a topic in astronomy.
Choice (D) can be stricken simply due to “corroborate” (to prove true or support with evidence). The passage is describing, not making an argument.
Finally, choice (E) is much too broad! You could spend an entire career discussing “how science and philosophy interrelate.” This passage covers a much more narrow topic.
2. Which of the following can be inferred by the passage:
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
Remember that Inference questions are not asking you to think for yourself. You must not make any assumptions or go beyond the information in the passage.
Statement I is true because you can prove it with the first sentence of paragraph 2: “In 1604 in Padua, Italy, a supernova became visible, appearing as a star so bright that it was visible in daylight for more than a year.” Since this supernova was visible for more than a year, it is possible for supernovae to “take more than a year to fade from view.” Note that paragraph 1 says “supernovae take weeks or months to fade from view” — apparently, according to paragraph 2, the number of months can be more than twelve. (Note that if Statement I said “Supernovae always take more than a year to fade from view,” it would be wrong.)
Statement II cannot be proven. Just because you are told that a supernova in 1604 caused a stir doesn’t mean no one else had ever seen one before.
Statement III also cannot be proven. You know that Galileo disagreed with the philosophers; you don’t know that those particular philosophers ever changed their minds.
Difficulty Level: 700
Explanation
Remember that Inference questions are not asking you to think for yourself. You must not make any assumptions or go beyond the information in the passage.
Statement I is true because you can prove it with the first sentence of paragraph 2: “In 1604 in Padua, Italy, a supernova became visible, appearing as a star so bright that it was visible in daylight for more than a year.” Since this supernova was visible for more than a year, it is possible for supernovae to “take more than a year to fade from view.” Note that paragraph 1 says “supernovae take weeks or months to fade from view” — apparently, according to paragraph 2, the number of months can be more than twelve. (Note that if Statement I said “Supernovae always take more than a year to fade from view,” it would be wrong.)
Statement II cannot be proven. Just because you are told that a supernova in 1604 caused a stir doesn’t mean no one else had ever seen one before.
Statement III also cannot be proven. You know that Galileo disagreed with the philosophers; you don’t know that those particular philosophers ever changed their minds.
3. The author mentions which of the following as a result of the supernova of 1604?
Difficulty Level: 750
Explanation
Try to answer questions like this in your head before reading the choices. What happened as a result of the supernova in 1604? Galileo gave popular lectures in which he “sought to explain” the origin of the “star” and which “undermined the views” of some philosophers. That’s all you know.
Choice (A) is a bit silly— was the Earth created after 1604? This choice took some wording from the paragraph and twisted it around to trick us.
Choice (B) is too extreme— you know that Galileo “sought to explain” the origin of the supernova, but you don’t know that he succeeded.
Choice (C) is true— you are told that the lectures were “widely attended by the public.” (A very picky person might point out that just because people go to a lecture doesn’t mean they are interested, but all of the other answers are definitely Wrong, so that confirms that this is a reasonable— that is, very
tiny— leap.)
Choice (D) is attractive, but is a trap answer. You know that Galileo, in his lectures, “undermined” (weakened) the views o f the philosophers. But you don’t know what the philosophers’ response was, and you certainly don’t know whether the philosophers were opposed to the lectures themselves (a person could be opposed to the ideas in a lecture but still think the lecturer should be allowed to lecture).
Choice (E) is also attractive because you, as a modern reader, know this to be true in real life. However, the question does not ask, “What really happened?” It asks, “The author mentions which of the following as a result of the supernova of 1604?” The author does not mention that the philosophers were “proved wrong.” (Their views were “undermined, which is much less extreme.) You cannot validate this answer choice with evidence from the passage.
Difficulty Level: 750
Explanation
Try to answer questions like this in your head before reading the choices. What happened as a result of the supernova in 1604? Galileo gave popular lectures in which he “sought to explain” the origin of the “star” and which “undermined the views” of some philosophers. That’s all you know.
Choice (A) is a bit silly— was the Earth created after 1604? This choice took some wording from the paragraph and twisted it around to trick us.
Choice (B) is too extreme— you know that Galileo “sought to explain” the origin of the supernova, but you don’t know that he succeeded.
Choice (C) is true— you are told that the lectures were “widely attended by the public.” (A very picky person might point out that just because people go to a lecture doesn’t mean they are interested, but all of the other answers are definitely Wrong, so that confirms that this is a reasonable— that is, very
tiny— leap.)
Choice (D) is attractive, but is a trap answer. You know that Galileo, in his lectures, “undermined” (weakened) the views o f the philosophers. But you don’t know what the philosophers’ response was, and you certainly don’t know whether the philosophers were opposed to the lectures themselves (a person could be opposed to the ideas in a lecture but still think the lecturer should be allowed to lecture).
Choice (E) is also attractive because you, as a modern reader, know this to be true in real life. However, the question does not ask, “What really happened?” It asks, “The author mentions which of the following as a result of the supernova of 1604?” The author does not mention that the philosophers were “proved wrong.” (Their views were “undermined, which is much less extreme.) You cannot validate this answer choice with evidence from the passage.
Hope It helps
General Discussion
05 Dec 2018, 08:42
Kudos
Bookmarks
Paragraph 1. Generation of supernova from explosion and the results.
Paragraph 2. Observation of a Supernova visible from earth in 1604 in Italy.
Q1. The following line in the last line of the Passage is clearly reiterated in option (B)
This idea was foundational to a worldview underpinned by a central and all-important Earth, with celestial bodies merely rotating around it.
Q2. Option (I) "While the explosion itself takes less than fifteen seconds, supernovae take weeks or months to fade from view; during that time, a supernova can emit an amount of energy equivalent to the amount of energy the Sun is expected to radiate over its entire lifespan. "
Option (II) Nothing has been mentioned wheteher Supernova have been viewed earlier/not.
Option (III) Galileo didn't convinced philosophers of the incorrectness of their views, rather the passage states that he lectured publicly.
Though Skeptical would mark (A) as we can not eliminate option (I), " take weeks or months to fade from view " and we know 12 months = 1 year...
Q3. (C) is a correct as per the following part of the passage in the last paragraph " Galileo, who lectured at the university, gave several lectures widely attended by the public. The lectures not only sought to explain the origin of the "star"......."
Request others to pour in your view to tackle question 2 more efficiently, apart from elimination strategy
Paragraph 2. Observation of a Supernova visible from earth in 1604 in Italy.
Q1. The following line in the last line of the Passage is clearly reiterated in option (B)
This idea was foundational to a worldview underpinned by a central and all-important Earth, with celestial bodies merely rotating around it.
Q2. Option (I) "While the explosion itself takes less than fifteen seconds, supernovae take weeks or months to fade from view; during that time, a supernova can emit an amount of energy equivalent to the amount of energy the Sun is expected to radiate over its entire lifespan. "
Option (II) Nothing has been mentioned wheteher Supernova have been viewed earlier/not.
Option (III) Galileo didn't convinced philosophers of the incorrectness of their views, rather the passage states that he lectured publicly.
Though Skeptical would mark (A) as we can not eliminate option (I), " take weeks or months to fade from view " and we know 12 months = 1 year...
Q3. (C) is a correct as per the following part of the passage in the last paragraph " Galileo, who lectured at the university, gave several lectures widely attended by the public. The lectures not only sought to explain the origin of the "star"......."
Request others to pour in your view to tackle question 2 more efficiently, apart from elimination strategy
