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22 Mar 2024, 08:47
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Passage: To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis
Portion in Boldface: To highlight a shortcoming in an explanation for a certain astronomical event
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
37% (02:16) correct
63%
(02:28)
wrong
based on 347
sessions
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The Encounter Hypothesis is one of the earliest theories about the formation of the solar system. According to this hypothesis, a rogue star passed close to the Sun about 5 billion years ago. Material, in the form of hot gas, was tidally stripped from the Sun and fragmented into smaller lumps that became the planets. Although this hypothesis explains why all planets revolve in the same direction, it ignores that encounters between stars are so rare as to be improbable in the lifetime of the Universe, which is generally accepted to be around 14 billion years; before any theory about the formation of the solar system is accepted, scientists must take into consideration, this shortcoming.
Select Passage for the statement that best describes the purpose of the passage as a whole, and select Portion in Boldface for the statement that best describes the purpose of the portion in boldface. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Select Passage for the statement that best describes the purpose of the passage as a whole, and select Portion in Boldface for the statement that best describes the purpose of the portion in boldface. Make only two selections, one in each column.
| Passage | Portion in Boldface | |
| To offer an alternative explanation for a certain astronomical event | ||
| To highlight a shortcoming in an explanation for a certain astronomical event | ||
| To suggest that the mathematical probability of a hypothesis needs to be considered before accepting the hypothesis | ||
| To discourage scientists from accepting the earliest theories about a certain astronomical event | ||
| To criticize a piece of evidence for lack of specific detail | ||
| To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis |
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Official Answer
Passage: To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis
Portion in Boldface: To highlight a shortcoming in an explanation for a certain astronomical event
30 Jun 2024, 01:57
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For the first column :-
The following four options are close.
1.To suggest that the mathematical probability of a hypothesis needs to be considered before accepting the hypothesis :- Narrows down the scope of the passage. The passage says - before any theory about the formation of the solar system is accepted, scientists must take into consideration, this shortcoming. It does not talk about only mathematical ones .
2. To discourage scientists from accepting the earliest theories about a certain astronomical event :- Wrong because of the earliest theories
3. To criticize a piece of evidence for lack of specific detail :- No lack of detail can be observed.
4. To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis :- Our answer for the first column.
For the second column :-
Notice this part -
it ignores that encounters between stars are so rare as to be improbable in the lifetime of the Universe, which is generally accepted to be around 14 billion years; before any theory about the formation of the solar system is accepted, scientists must take into consideration, this shortcoming.
This shortcoming is being highlighted by the bold face.
The following four options are close.
1.To suggest that the mathematical probability of a hypothesis needs to be considered before accepting the hypothesis :- Narrows down the scope of the passage. The passage says - before any theory about the formation of the solar system is accepted, scientists must take into consideration, this shortcoming. It does not talk about only mathematical ones .
2. To discourage scientists from accepting the earliest theories about a certain astronomical event :- Wrong because of the earliest theories
3. To criticize a piece of evidence for lack of specific detail :- No lack of detail can be observed.
4. To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis :- Our answer for the first column.
For the second column :-
Notice this part -
it ignores that encounters between stars are so rare as to be improbable in the lifetime of the Universe, which is generally accepted to be around 14 billion years; before any theory about the formation of the solar system is accepted, scientists must take into consideration, this shortcoming.
This shortcoming is being highlighted by the bold face.
04 Jul 2024, 08:56
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Passage Purpose:
- What it does: The entire passage discusses the Encounter Hypothesis, a theory about the solar system's formation. It first explains the core idea: a rogue star passing by the Sun and pulling away material that formed planets.
- What it emphasizes: However, the passage then shifts focus to a critical weakness: the extremely low chance of such a stellar encounter happening.
- What it's not about: The passage doesn't offer alternative explanations, criticize specific evidence, or solely focus on mathematical probability. It also doesn't completely dismiss the theory or discourage considering early ideas altogether.
Bolded Portion Purpose:- What it focuses on: The bolded part specifically talks about the improbability of the encounter event described in the Encounter Hypothesis.
- What it highlights: This highlights a shortcoming in the explanation. The theory might explain the planets' same direction of revolution, but it doesn't adequately address the rarity of the event it proposes.
- What it's not about: The bolded part isn't about discouraging critical analysis in general. It specifically targets the uncritical acceptance of the Encounter Hypothesis without considering this significant limitation.
Overall:
- The passage aims to make scientists think critically about the Encounter Hypothesis.
- The bolded portion is a key point within the passage, highlighting the weakness that necessitates critical analysis.
Passage: To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis
Portion in Boldface: To highlight a shortcoming in an explanation for a certain astronomical event
- What it does: The entire passage discusses the Encounter Hypothesis, a theory about the solar system's formation. It first explains the core idea: a rogue star passing by the Sun and pulling away material that formed planets.
- What it emphasizes: However, the passage then shifts focus to a critical weakness: the extremely low chance of such a stellar encounter happening.
- What it's not about: The passage doesn't offer alternative explanations, criticize specific evidence, or solely focus on mathematical probability. It also doesn't completely dismiss the theory or discourage considering early ideas altogether.
Bolded Portion Purpose:- What it focuses on: The bolded part specifically talks about the improbability of the encounter event described in the Encounter Hypothesis.
- What it highlights: This highlights a shortcoming in the explanation. The theory might explain the planets' same direction of revolution, but it doesn't adequately address the rarity of the event it proposes.
- What it's not about: The bolded part isn't about discouraging critical analysis in general. It specifically targets the uncritical acceptance of the Encounter Hypothesis without considering this significant limitation.
Overall:
- The passage aims to make scientists think critically about the Encounter Hypothesis.
- The bolded portion is a key point within the passage, highlighting the weakness that necessitates critical analysis.
Passage: To discourage acceptance of a hypothesis about a particular astronomical event without critical analysis
Portion in Boldface: To highlight a shortcoming in an explanation for a certain astronomical event
