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roopika2990
Joined: 21 Aug 2012
Last visit: 07 Dec 2016
Posts: 67
Given Kudos: 349
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: HBS '19 (S)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
Updated on: 04 Aug 2019, 00:04
Originally posted by roopika2990 on 17 Feb 2013, 04:20.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 04 Aug 2019, 00:04, edited 6 times in total.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 04 Aug 2019, 00:04, edited 6 times in total.
Updated complete topic (69).
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Question 1
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
61% (02:53) correct
39%
(02:56) wrong
based on 4166
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
70% (01:12) correct 30%
(01:30) wrong
based on 4255
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
53% (01:47) correct 47%
(01:51) wrong
based on 4159
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 4
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
71% (00:49) correct 29%
(00:57) wrong
based on 3600
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Astronomers theorize that a black hole forms when a massive object shrinks catastrophically under its own gravity, leaving only a gravitational field so strong that nothing escapes it. Astronomers must infer the existence of black holes, which are invisible, from their gravitational influence on the visible bodies surrounding them. For example, observations indicate that gas clouds in galaxy M87 are whirling unusually fast about the galaxy’s center. Most astronomers believe that the large concentration of mass at the galaxy’s center is a black hole whose gravity is causing the gas to whirl. A few skeptics have argued that the concentration of mass necessary to explain the speed of the whirling gas is not necessarily a black hole: the concentration in M87 might be a cluster of a billion or so dim stars.
The same hypothesis might have been applied to the galaxy NGC 4258, but the notion of such a cluster’s existing in NGC 4258 was severely undermined when astronomers measured the speed of a ring of dust and gas rotating close to the galaxy’s center. From its speed, they calculated that the core’s density is more than 40 times the density estimated for any other galaxy. If the center of NGC 4258 were a star cluster, the stars would be so closely spaced that collisions between individual stars would have long ago torn the cluster apart.
The same hypothesis might have been applied to the galaxy NGC 4258, but the notion of such a cluster’s existing in NGC 4258 was severely undermined when astronomers measured the speed of a ring of dust and gas rotating close to the galaxy’s center. From its speed, they calculated that the core’s density is more than 40 times the density estimated for any other galaxy. If the center of NGC 4258 were a star cluster, the stars would be so closely spaced that collisions between individual stars would have long ago torn the cluster apart.
1. The skeptics mentioned in the first paragraph would be most likely to agree with the astronomers mentioned in line 13 about which of the following statements concerning the galaxy M87?
(A) The speed of the gas whirling around the center of M87 is caused by a dense object that is not a black hole.
(B) The concentration of mass at the center of M87 is probably a large cluster of dim stars.
(C) The presence of a black hole at the center of M87 is the most likely explanation for the speed of the gas whirling about the galaxy’s core.
(D) The speed of the gas whirling around the center of M87 is caused by a large concentration of mass at the core of M87.
(E) The gravitational influence of a star cluster would not be strong enough to account for the speed of the gas whirling around the core of M87.
(A) The speed of the gas whirling around the center of M87 is caused by a dense object that is not a black hole.
(B) The concentration of mass at the center of M87 is probably a large cluster of dim stars.
(C) The presence of a black hole at the center of M87 is the most likely explanation for the speed of the gas whirling about the galaxy’s core.
(D) The speed of the gas whirling around the center of M87 is caused by a large concentration of mass at the core of M87.
(E) The gravitational influence of a star cluster would not be strong enough to account for the speed of the gas whirling around the core of M87.
2. The passage asserts which of the following about the existence of black holes?
(A) Astronomers first speculated about the existence of black holes when they observed gas whirling around the center of a particular galaxy.
(B) Evidence used to argue for the existence of black holes is indirect, coming from their presumed effects on other astronomical bodies.
(C) Recent observations of certain astronomical bodies have offered proof.
(D) A considerable body of evidence suggests the existence of black holes, even though their behavior is not completely consistent with the laws of physics.
(E) Many astronomers are skeptical about certain recent evidence that has been used to argue for the existence of black holes.
(A) Astronomers first speculated about the existence of black holes when they observed gas whirling around the center of a particular galaxy.
(B) Evidence used to argue for the existence of black holes is indirect, coming from their presumed effects on other astronomical bodies.
(C) Recent observations of certain astronomical bodies have offered proof.
(D) A considerable body of evidence suggests the existence of black holes, even though their behavior is not completely consistent with the laws of physics.
(E) Many astronomers are skeptical about certain recent evidence that has been used to argue for the existence of black holes.
3. Which of the following, if true, would most clearly undermine the possible explanation for the whirling gas in M87 that is mentioned in the last sentence of the first paragraph?
(A) The stars in a star cluster at the center of M87 could exert a strong gravitational force without tearing the cluster apart.
(B) A cluster of stars at the center would preclude the existence of certain other astronomical phenomena that have been observed at the center of M87.
(C) The stars within many existing galaxies, such as NGC 4258, are more closely spaced than are the stars within the core of M87.
(D) Only one other galaxy has been observed to contain gas clouds whirling about its center as they do about the core of M87.
(E) The gravitational force of a cluster of a billion or so dim stars would be sufficient to cause a whirling ring of gas and dust to collect around the center of a galaxy.
(A) The stars in a star cluster at the center of M87 could exert a strong gravitational force without tearing the cluster apart.
(B) A cluster of stars at the center would preclude the existence of certain other astronomical phenomena that have been observed at the center of M87.
(C) The stars within many existing galaxies, such as NGC 4258, are more closely spaced than are the stars within the core of M87.
(D) Only one other galaxy has been observed to contain gas clouds whirling about its center as they do about the core of M87.
(E) The gravitational force of a cluster of a billion or so dim stars would be sufficient to cause a whirling ring of gas and dust to collect around the center of a galaxy.
4. The passage is primarily concerned with
(A) explaining why a particular phenomenon is so rare
(B) criticizing a method used to gather data about a natural phenomenon
(C) considering possible instances of a particular phenomenon
(D) distinguishing among several different kinds of natural phenomena
(E) questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual phenomenon
(A) explaining why a particular phenomenon is so rare
(B) criticizing a method used to gather data about a natural phenomenon
(C) considering possible instances of a particular phenomenon
(D) distinguishing among several different kinds of natural phenomena
(E) questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual phenomenon
FEATURE 24 June 1995
Obscure objects of Desire
By Marcus Chown
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14619834-200-obscure-objects-of-desire/
Obscure objects of Desire
By Marcus Chown
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14619834-200-obscure-objects-of-desire/
HHPreparation
Current Student
Joined: 10 Jun 2018
Last visit: 30 Oct 2023
Posts: 22
Given Kudos: 5
Location: Germany
Schools: LBS '23 (A) IESE'23 (A) SSE MBM "23 (A)
GMAT 1: 620 Q47 V28
GMAT 2: 680 Q47 V36
GMAT 3: 710 Q49 V39
GPA: 3.14
19 Jan 2019, 06:49
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Question 4:
I choose E in the beginning to be honest but in review I got to C following this thinking:
My strategy in these general purpose questions of reading comprehension is to be very literal with the Verbs and Adjectives of each answer statement:
A. explaining why a particular phenomenon is so rare
"Explaining" seems odd to me here on first sight as they text is opposing two different theories, so this word does not seem to be optimal choise. In addition there is no explaination of the text why the Black holes are rare -> OUT
B. criticizing a method used to gather data about a natural phenomenon
"Criticizing" makes more sense, because the text is actually presenting two possible explanations for the Black Holes and then argues for one these explanations. However it has nothing to do with gathering data -> OUT
C. considering possible instances of a particular phenomeanon
"Considering" seems okay. It refers to the fact that the text is reflecting multiple theories for the creation of ONE particular phenomena, the Black Holes, so we are fine here. Besides the first Verb it is also important to be literal with adjective here.
D. distinguishing among several different kinds of natural phenomena
"Distinguishing" seems also okay, but we only have one phomena and not different kinds -> OUT
E. questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual phenomenon
"Questioning" seems fine here. The next adjective is the "widely accepeted". Seems also okay as "most astronomers" believe that the large concentration of mass at the galaxy's center is a black hole whose gravity is causing the gas to whirl.
However the text never mentions that this phenomenon is unusual. We are assuming that because we migh have heard that black holes are not so common, but the text never explictly states that so -> OUT
Would be happy to get your opinion on this!
I choose E in the beginning to be honest but in review I got to C following this thinking:
My strategy in these general purpose questions of reading comprehension is to be very literal with the Verbs and Adjectives of each answer statement:
A. explaining why a particular phenomenon is so rare
"Explaining" seems odd to me here on first sight as they text is opposing two different theories, so this word does not seem to be optimal choise. In addition there is no explaination of the text why the Black holes are rare -> OUT
B. criticizing a method used to gather data about a natural phenomenon
"Criticizing" makes more sense, because the text is actually presenting two possible explanations for the Black Holes and then argues for one these explanations. However it has nothing to do with gathering data -> OUT
C. considering possible instances of a particular phenomeanon
"Considering" seems okay. It refers to the fact that the text is reflecting multiple theories for the creation of ONE particular phenomena, the Black Holes, so we are fine here. Besides the first Verb it is also important to be literal with adjective here.
D. distinguishing among several different kinds of natural phenomena
"Distinguishing" seems also okay, but we only have one phomena and not different kinds -> OUT
E. questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual phenomenon
"Questioning" seems fine here. The next adjective is the "widely accepeted". Seems also okay as "most astronomers" believe that the large concentration of mass at the galaxy's center is a black hole whose gravity is causing the gas to whirl.
However the text never mentions that this phenomenon is unusual. We are assuming that because we migh have heard that black holes are not so common, but the text never explictly states that so -> OUT
Would be happy to get your opinion on this!
24 Dec 2019, 12:26
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Ohbebby
Hello, Ohbebby. To answer your question, yes, I can see another problem with option (E). Let us take a closer look:
4. The passage is primarily concerned with
(E) questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual phenomenon
If the passage were indeed questioning a widely accepted explanation to something, then you would need to be able to put a finger on what that something might be. There are only two hypotheses put forth as to what constitutes the large concentration of mass at the center of a galaxy, with galaxies M87 and NGC 4258 being held up as examples:
1) a black hole - We are told that most astronomers believe this to be true.
2) a cluster of a billion or so dim stars - We are told that a few skeptics adopt this position.
If you mean to suggest that the passage is questioning the validity of the former hypothesis, then that is simply a misreading of the passage. That is, the star-cluster hypothesis is rejected in paragraph two, meaning the passage would fall back on the only other hypothesis. If, on the other hand, you mean to suggest that the passage is questioning the validity of the latter hypothesis, then you have to ask yourself whether a few skeptics who go against the grain constitute a large enough group to apply the label widely accepted. Either way, of course, the answer choice is in jeopardy, irrespective of unusual later on.
I hope that helps. Good luck with your studies.
- Andrew
