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sonalshenoy
Why is C wrong? The passage says all theories can be traced back to the 3

C mentions the origins of life, not origins of the universe. It is making the wrong point. Nowhere are the origins of life mentioned; The passage is about the universe, which is non-living (scientifically speaking).
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Wow. That's a cheeky question. I thought Big Bang Theory, String Theory, and Time’s Arrow Theory were the 3 fundamental theories mentioned in the passage. I fell for the trap option (A) as a result. If the Big Bang Theory is the sole fundamental theory specified in this passage, it makes sense for the right answer to be (E).

Dangnabbit!
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The writing could be clearer, but notice that the last sentence says ST and TAT can be derived from "one of the two other two fundamental theories." This implies that these are NOT fundamental theories, especially since the second sentence distinguishes fundamental theories from those theories that can be derived from them. Also, if these two were fundamental, and if there were two others, that would make at least four fundamental theories.
Vaishbab
Wow. That's a cheeky question. I thought Big Bang Theory, String Theory, and Time’s Arrow Theory were the 3 fundamental theories mentioned in the passage. I fell for the trap option (A) as a result. If the Big Bang Theory is the sole fundamental theory specified in this passage, it makes sense for the right answer to be (E).

Dangnabbit!
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E is logically incorrect.

It say that String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory can be derived from the one of the other two theories and what if that theory is Big bang theory then the parent theory for String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory is Big bang theory.
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There's a logic flaw in your point ...

There are three fundamental theories: BIg Bang is the most known one, the other String and Time's arrow can be derived from the two others. The stem is rock solid in separating the BB theory from the two other derived theories.
ahddhah
E is logically incorrect.

It say that String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory can be derived from the one of the other two theories and what if that theory is Big bang theory then the parent theory for String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory is Big bang theory.
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What we know -
-There are three fundamental theories.
-1 is big bang.
-TAT and ST are diff from each other but can be derived from other two fundamental theories(not big bang).

Answer choices
A - ST and TAT are not fundamental theories
B - We cannot say that because it mentions that it can be derived from one of the other two theories. It is not mentioned which one or is it same or not.
C - talks about origin of life
D - We can not say that about future
E - Correct Answer

TBT
There are about a hundred theories that claim to explain the origin of the universe. However, there are only three fundamental theories and all the other theories can be derived from one of these. Big Bang Theory, which is by far the most widely believed theory in the science fraternity, has about thirty corollaries that differ among themselves in minute details. The rest of the theories such as the String Theory and the Time's Arrow Theory, although very widely different in their ideas and explanations, can be derived from one of the other two fundamental theories.

Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage?

a. Big Bang Theory, String Theory, and Time's Arrow Theory are the fundamental theories around which all other theories revolve.

b. String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are not derived from the same parent theory.

c. All the theories explaining the origins of life revolve around the same three fundamental theories.

d. Any new theory about the origin of the universe has to conform to one of the fundamental theories.

e. Big Bang Theory is fundamentally different from the parent theories that can derive the String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory.
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Correct Answer : E

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Deconstruct the Facts in the Passage
  • Fact 1: There are about 100 theories explaining the origin of the universe, but only 3 fundamental theories.
  • Fact 2: Big Bang Theory is one of these fundamental theories (Fundamental Theory #1), having about 30 derived corollaries.
  • Fact 3: Other theories like String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are derived from "one of the other two fundamental theories" (Fundamental Theories #2 and #3).
2. Why Option (e) Must Be True
  • Since Big Bang Theory is Fundamental Theory #1, the parent theories that derive String Theory or Time's Arrow Theory are Fundamental Theories #2 and #3 ("the other two").
  • By definition, Fundamental Theory #1 is a separate and distinct entity from Fundamental Theories #2 and #3.
  • Therefore, the Big Bang Theory is fundamentally different from the parent theories that derive String Theory or Time's Arrow Theory.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
  • a. Incorrect (Misreading Categorization): The passage explicitly states that String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are derived from the "other two" fundamental theories. They are derived theories, not fundamental theories themselves.
  • b. Incorrect (Unwarranted Assumption): The text states that String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory can be derived from "one of the other two fundamental theories." It is completely possible that both are derived from the same parent theory (e.g., both derived from Fundamental Theory #2). We cannot infer that they come from different parents.
  • c. Incorrect (Out-of-Scope Word Swap): The passage discusses the origin of the universe, whereas option (c) quietly shifts the topic to the origin of life.
  • d. Incorrect (Over-Generalization Trap): The passage speaks about the ~100 existing theories. We cannot legally infer a universal law governing "any new theory" created in the future.

sonalshenoy
Why is C wrong? The passage says all theories can be traced back to the 3
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it does mention all three are fundamental theories .
Vaishbab
Wow. That's a cheeky question. I thought Big Bang Theory, String Theory, and Time’s Arrow Theory were the 3 fundamental theories mentioned in the passage. I fell for the trap option (A) as a result. If the Big Bang Theory is the sole fundamental theory specified in this passage, it makes sense for the right answer to be (E).

Dangnabbit!
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First let's analyze the the statements provided in the passage:

1. Fundamental theories count: There are three fundamental theories.

2. First fundamental theory: Big Bang Theory is one fundamental theory, with about thirty corollaries.

3. Other theories mentioned: String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are derived from "one of the other two fundamental theories."

Now, let's evaluate each option:

A. Big Bang Theory, String Theory, and Time's Arrow Theory are the fundamental theories around which all other theories revolve.
Incorrect: The text explicitly states that String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are derived from one of the other two fundamental theories, meaning String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are not fundamental theories themselves.

B. String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory are not derived from the same parent theory.
Incorrect: The passage says they "can be derived from one of the other two fundamental theories." This phrasing means that one single fundamental theory (out of the remaining two) derives both String Theory and Time's Arrow Theory, or at least it does not state that they come from different ones.

C. All the theories explaining the origins of life revolve around the same three fundamental theories.
Incorrect: The passage discusses the origin of the universe, not the origins of life.

D. Any new theory about the origin of the universe has to conform to one of the fundamental theories.
Incorrect: The text discusses existing theories ("about a hundred theories that claim..."), but does not make a rule or restriction about future/new theories.

E. Big Bang Theory is fundamentally different from the parent theories that can derive the String Theory or the Time's Arrow Theory.
Correct: Since the Big Bang Theory is one fundamental theory, and String Theory / Time's Arrow Theory are derived from "one of the other two fundamental theories," the parent theory of String/Time's Arrow Theory is distinct/different from the Big Bang Theory.

Correct Answer: E
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