Arielltl
Q1. The passage indicates that one reason why the expansion hypothesis has attracted little support is that it WILL NOT
(A) overcome deficiencies in current geologic hypotheses
I don't see anywhere in the passage that mentions or implies that the expansion hypothesis WILL NOT overcome deficiencies in current geologic hypotheses. He cites the continental drift as an example from the past and "The cases are not precisely analogous." So the expansion hypothesis may or may not overcome current geologic hypotheses. "Will not" is kind of an extreme word. Or did I get the wrong idea here?
Hi
Arielltl,
Agreed that the complete passage is based on ideas, we cannot infer anything explicitly. But, for Question 1, if we look at the 1st para, author mentions that the hypothesis of an expanding Earth has never attracted notable support, and if it were not for the continental drift theory it would still be an improbable concept. Author again mentions that continental drift was also once considered illusory, but the idea was kept alive until evidence from physicists compelled geologists to reinterpret their data. So, interpreting from the same, that since continental drift theory was also considered an illusion, but was later accepted, if something similar could be done for the expanding Earth hypothesis, we might find some support for the same. The same is also mentioned by the author in the last lines of the passage: "If, however, physicists could show that the Earth’s gravitational force has decreased with time,
expansion would have to be reconsidered and accommodated."
Though "will not" might seem a little extreme, we have to keep in mind that though it is not mentioned in the passage that the expansion hypothesis has attracted little support because
it will not overcome deficiencies in current geologic hypotheses, but still we can that the complete passage is an idea, of what has happened, and similarly if physicists could show that the Earth’s gravitational force has decreased with time, may be the hypothesis could also find support.
Thus A is the best answer.
Hope This Helps.
Thanks.