Passage Map:-
We can't say with certainty that there is a massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.- The mass can be determined by the velocities of stars and gas orbiting
- Based on this information, there should be an extremely compact object
- Lack of energy radiating from center is an issue -- there should be more energy radiating.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. present several theories that could account for a particular phenomenon
B. argue that a certain question needs to be reframed in light of new evidence
C. resolve an apparent inconsistency between two lines of evidence
D. explain why a certain issue remains unresolvedE. present evidence that calls into question certain assumptions of a current theory
Quote:
Is there a massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way? The evidence is inconclusive.
2. According to the passage, the dynamical evidence referred to in lines 9–10 supports which of the following?
A. Recent assumptions about the velocities of stars
B. Widely held predictions about the amount of matter a black hole will engulf
C. The existence of an extremely dense object at the center of the Milky WayD. The contention that too much energy is coming from the mass at the Milky Way's galactic center for that mass to be a black hole
E. The conclusion that a compact object of two to three million times the mass of our Sun is too dense to be anything but a black hole
Quote:
This dynamical evidence, based on recently confirmed assumptions about the stars’ velocities, argues for an extremely compact object with a mass two to three million times the mass of our Sun. Although according to current theory this makes the mass at the center of the galaxy too dense to be anything but a black hole, the relative lack of energy radiating from the galactic center presents a serious problem.
3. The “serious problem” referred to in line 17 could be solved if which of the following were true?
A. Current assumptions about how much matter a black hole would engulf proved to be several thousand times too high.B. Current assumptions about how much matter a black hole would engulf proved to be a few thousand times too low.
C. The object at the center of the Milky Way turned out to be far more dense than it is currently estimated to be.
D. The object at the center of the Milky Way turned out to be far more massive than it is currently estimated to be.
E. Matter being engulfed by a black hole radiated far more energy than is currently assumed.
Current assumptions right now are too low; if assumptions proved to be too high this issue would be solved.
4. The “widely held predictions” mentioned in line 25 are predictions about the
A. compactness of objects whose mass is millions of times the mass of our Sun
B. velocities of stars orbiting the galactic center
C. amount of matter swirling around the object at the center of the Milky Way
D. amount of matter falling into a theoretical central black hole
E. amount of energy that should be coming from a black hole at the center of the Milky WayQuote:
But when the energy coming from the galactic center is compared to widely held predictions based on how much matter should be falling into a theoretical central black hole, there is a discrepancy by a factor of a few thousand.