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.
Sep 0201:00 PM EDT
-11:59 PM EDT
Take 30% off all study plans with code COURSEWORK - Expires on Monday 9/7
Sep 0410:00 AM EDT
-11:59 PM EDT
We’ve worked incredibly hard to build TTP into the best test prep experience possible, and it would mean a lot to us to win Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep. If TTP has helped you, we’d be incredibly grateful for your vote.
Sep 0609:30 AM EDT
-12:30 PM EST
Top scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful EA course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Perfect class schedule and easy course access for working professionals. Class starts Sundays Sept. 6, 2026.
Sep 0712:01 AM PDT
-11:59 PM PDT
On the 7th, GMAT Club Tests will be Free! Including all the Quizzes, Questions, and Tests. 12 AM - 11:59 PM PDT- Sep 07
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
A complete walkthrough of GMAT Club’s free 12-week GMAT study plan: what you study each week, how progress and goals are tracked, how the error log works, and how your practice unlocks paid tools at no cost. - Sep 09
07:00 AM PDT
-10:00 AM PDT
Meet AdComs and explore top Master’s programs - MiM, MiF, MSc, MSBA and more. - Application Fee Waivers - Free 1-Week of GMAT Club Tests: - Master's Application Toolkit - Grand Prize Giveaway - Sep 09
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Three MBA applications. Three rejections. No interview invites. A year later, Aman was admitted to Cambridge Judge, SMU, and IMD. In this episode of MBA Admit Stories, Aman shares how he rebuilt his MBA application... 
Sep 1507:00 PM EDT
-09:00 PM EST
Elite scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GMAT course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Tues/Thurs Sept. 15, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2027, 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
Sep 2108:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri Sept. 21, 2026 - Oct. 9, 2027, 7:00pm-10:00pm EST
22 Mar 2024, 08:47
Kudos
Bookmarks
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:
36% (02:15) correct
64%
(02:21)
wrong
based on 529
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
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 |
ShowHide Answer
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
Kudos
Bookmarks
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
Kudos
Bookmarks
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
