It is a popular misconception that nuclear fusion power is free of

Question

It is a popular misconception that nuclear fusion power is free of radioactivity; in fact, the deuterium-tritium reaction that nuclear scientists are currently exploring with such zeal produces both alpha particles and neutrons. (The neutrons are used to produce tritium from a lithium blanket surrounding the reactor.) Another common misconception is that nuclear fusion power is a virtually unlimited source of energy because of the enormous quantity of deuterium in the sea. Actually, its limits are set by the amount of available lithium, which is about as plentiful as uranium in the Earth's crust. Research should certainly continue on controlled nuclear fusion, but no energy program should be premised on its existence until it has proven practical. For the immediate future, we must continue to use hydroelectric power, nuclear fission, and fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. The energy sources already in major use arc in major use for good reason.   1 
The primary purpose of the passage is to
 
(A) criticize scientists who believe that the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction can be made feasible as an energy source
(B) admonish scientists who have failed to correctly calculate the amount of lithium available for use in nuclear fusion reactors
(C) defend the continued short-term use of fossil fuels as a major energy source
(D) caution against uncritical embrace of nuclear fusion power as a major energy source
(E) correct the misconception that nuclear fusion power is entirely free of radioactivity

D

2 
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about the current state of public awareness concerning nuclear fusion power?

(A) The public has been deliberately misinformed about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fusion power.
(B) The public is unaware of the principal advantage of nuclear fusion over nuclear fission as an energy source.
(C) The public's awareness of the scientific facts concerning nuclear fusion power is somewhat distorted and incomplete.
(D) The public is not interested in increasing its awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fusion power.
(E) The public is aware of the disadvantages of nuclear fusion power but not of its advantages.

C

3 
3. The passage provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

(A) What is likely to be the principal source of deuterium for nuclear fusion power?
(B) How much incidental radiation is produced in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction?
(C) Why are scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction with such zeal?
(D) Why must the tritium for nuclear fusion be synthesized from lithium?
(E) Why dots the deuterium-tritium reaction yield both alpha particles and neutrons?

A

4 
4. Which of the following statements concerning nuclear scientists is most directly suggested in the passage?

(A) Nuclear scientists are not themselves aware of all of the facts surrounding the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction.
(B) Nuclear scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium reaction have overlooked key facts in their eagerness to prove nuclear fusion practical.
(C) Nuclear scientists may have overestimated the amount of lithium actually available in the Earth's crust.
(D) Nuclear scientists have not been entirely dispassionate in their investigation of the deuterium-tritium reaction.
(E) Nuclear scientists have insufficiently investigated the lithium-to-tritium reaction in nuclear fusion.

D

DAVEexamPAL · Accepted Answer

Question 1  
 The primary purpose of the passage is to

The passage opens by categorizing as misconceptions positive opinions of nuclear fusion power, and concludes by stating that existing power sources, and not nuclear fusion power, should continue to be used for now. Al of this amounts to the passage working to   (D) caution against uncritical embrace of nuclear fusion power as a major energy source

Question 2  
 It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about the current state of public awareness concerning nuclear fusion power? 
This question sends us to look in the passage for the parts relating to public awareness of fusion power. The term " popular misconceptions"  is key here: without even reading what these conceptions are, this term tells us the author views the public as being misinformed on the topic, and this confusion - we see from the first two sentences - relates to the scientific facts. This is exactly what C tells us:   The public's awareness of the scientific facts concerning nuclear fusion power is somewhat distorted and incomplete.

Question 2  
 The passage provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

In this question, we have to review the answer choices:
(A) What is likely to be the principal source of deuterium for nuclear fusion power?  We are told that there is an enormous quantity of deleterious in the ocean - Yes!  
(B) How much incidental radiation is produced in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction?  nowhere is this stated 
(C) Why are scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction with such zeal?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it 
(D) Why must the tritium for nuclear fusion be synthesized from lithium?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it 
(E) Why dots the deuterium-tritium reaction yield both alpha particles and neutrons?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it

Question 2  
 Which of the following statements concerning nuclear scientists is most directly suggested in the passage?

In this question, we have to review the answer choices:
(A) Nuclear scientists are not themselves aware of all of the facts surrounding the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's perceptions, not of scientists 
(B) Nuclear scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium reaction have overlooked key facts in their eagerness to prove nuclear fusion practical.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's eagerness, not that of scientists 
(C) Nuclear scientists may have overestimated the amount of lithium actually available in the Earth's crust.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested  
(D) Nuclear scientists have not been entirely dispassionate in their investigation of the deuterium-tritium reaction.  we ARE told that scientists investigate this question with  "zeal"  - this means they are dispassionate!  
(E) Nuclear scientists have insufficiently investigated the lithium-to-tritium reaction in nuclear fusion. this is not stated, nor is it suggested

DavidTutorexamPAL · Answer

Question 1 
 The primary purpose of the passage is to

The passage opens by categorizing as misconceptions positive opinions of nuclear fusion power, and concludes by stating that existing power sources, and not nuclear fusion power, should continue to be used for now.  All of this amounts to the passage working to (D) caution against uncritical embrace of nuclear fusion power as a major energy source

DavidTutorexamPAL · Answer

Question 2 
 It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about the current state of public awareness concerning nuclear fusion power? 
This question sends us to look in the passage for the parts relating to public awareness of fusion power. The term "popular misconceptions" is key here: without even reading what these conceptions are, this term tells us the author views the public as being misinformed on the topic, and this confusion - we see from the first two sentences - relates to the scientific facts.  This is exactly what C tells us: The public's awareness of the scientific facts concerning nuclear fusion power is somewhat distorted and incomplete.

DavidTutorexamPAL · Answer

Question 3 
 The passage provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

In this question, we have to review the answer choices:
(A) What is likely to be the principal source of deuterium for nuclear fusion power?  ]We are told that there is an enormous quantity of deleterious in the ocean - Yes! 
(B) How much incidental radiation is produced in the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction?  nowhere is this stated 
(C) Why are scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction with such zeal?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it 
(D) Why must the tritium for nuclear fusion be synthesized from lithium?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it 
(E) Why dots the deuterium-tritium reaction yield both alpha particles and neutrons?  while this phenomenon is mentioned, no reasons are given for it

DavidTutorexamPAL · Answer

Question 4

Which of the following statements concerning nuclear scientists is most directly suggested in the passage?

In this question, we have to review the answer choices:
(A) Nuclear scientists are not themselves aware of all of the facts surrounding the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction. this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's perceptions, not of scientists
(B) Nuclear scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium reaction have overlooked key facts in their eagerness to prove nuclear fusion practical.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's eagerness, not that of scientists 
(C) Nuclear scientists may have overestimated the amount of lithium actually available in the Earth's crust.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested  
(D) Nuclear scientists have not been entirely dispassionate in their investigation of the deuterium-tritium reaction.  ]we ARE told that scientists investigate this question with "zeal" - this means they are dispassionate!  
(E) Nuclear scientists have insufficiently investigated the lithium-to-tritium reaction in nuclear fusion. this is not stated, nor is it suggested  
_________________

DavidTutorexamPAL · Answer

Question 4 
 Which of the following statements concerning nuclear scientists is most directly suggested in the passage?

In this question, we have to review the answer choices:
(A) Nuclear scientists are not themselves aware of all of the facts surrounding the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's perceptions, not of scientists 
(B) Nuclear scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium reaction have overlooked key facts in their eagerness to prove nuclear fusion practical.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's eagerness, not that of scientists 
(C) Nuclear scientists may have overestimated the amount of lithium actually available in the Earth's crust.  this is not stated, nor is it suggested  
(D) Nuclear scientists have not been entirely dispassionate in their investigation of the deuterium-tritium reaction. we ARE told that scientists investigate this question with "zeal" - this means they are dispassionate! 
(E) Nuclear scientists have insufficiently investigated the lithium-to-tritium reaction in nuclear fusion. this is not stated, nor is it suggested

anirchat · Answer

For QUestion 4, I am still confused between :

( B ) Nuclear scientists exploring the deuterium-tritium reaction have overlooked key facts in their eagerness to prove nuclear fusion practical. this is not stated, nor is it suggested: the criticism levied is against the public's eagerness, not that of scientists

( D ) Nuclear scientists have not been entirely dispassionate in their investigation of the deuterium-tritium reaction. we ARE told that scientists investigate this question with "zeal" - this means they are dispassionate!

( D ) definitely is stated , I completely understand but B) also seems correct, unless the ' overlook facts ' is stated in terms of general public and not scientists.

It is a popular misconception that nuclear fusion power is free of

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It is a popular misconception that nuclear fusion power is free of

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