Certain theorists believe that some time after the Big Bang

Question

Certain theorists believe that some time after the Big Bang, fluctuations in the flow of matter and energy constituted seeds for galaxy formation. All models for generating fluctuations on a cosmological scale require a phase transition--a change in the fabric of space to produce lumps and ripples in the distribution of matter.  When water freezes to form an ice cube, for example, parts often freeze at slightly different rates to form regions of ice, seen as fractured lines and planes that do not quite mesh.  The question is when the phase transition took place.

The idea of a late phase transition is appealing because such a change would have occurred after energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, or of photons, stabilized. This means a late phase transition would have had practically no effect on the microwave background radiation, which pervades the universe and appears uniform in every direction.

Alternative theories in which phase transitions happened earlier have difficulty explaining how fluctuations can grow to become seeds for galaxy formation without distorting the microwave background radiation to a greater extent than has been observed.  Measurements of distortions in the microwave background radiation would provide the best tests of the new model.  The less distortion observers detect, the more promising a late phase transition model will look.   1 
 1. According to the passage, which of the following would be regarded as most helpful in assessing competing hypotheses concerning the formation of galaxies?

(A) An accurate measurement of the fractured lines and planes present in the fabric of space
(B) The reliable detection of lumps and ripples in the matter in the distant regions of space
(C) Accurate information regarding the amount of distortion in microwave background radiation
(D) Detailed astronomical maps of visible galaxies with an age estimation of their distribution
(E) An accurate measurement of the rate of the flow of matter and energy necessary to distort microwave background radiation

2 
 2. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the passage?

(A) Considering the possibility of a late-phase transition in the formation of the galaxies
(B) Analyzing the causes of the fluctuations in matter and energy in galaxy formation
(C) Describing the way in which galaxies formed after the Big Bang, and proposing other hypotheses
(D) Comparing various theories regarding late phase transition, and assessing ways of judging their validity
(E) Examining the possibility of a late phase transition in the formation of microwave background radiation

3 
 3. The author brings up the information about uniformity of microwave background radiation in order to

(A) show the ways in which fractured lines and planes do not mesh
(B) propose that an early phase transition is less likely
(C) explore why a late phase transition did not leave greater distortion in the fabric of microwave background radiation
(D) analyze the likelihood of flaws and lumps in the plane of space
(E) examine the idea that the Big Bang produced lumps and ripples in matter

4 
 4. According to the late phase transition hypothesis, it is possible that the disturbances in matter and energy that became galaxies

(A) affected the time of the phase transition more than was previously thought
(B) are consistent with the uniformity of microwave background radiation
(C) were responsible for the origins of fluctuations on a cosmological scale
(D) occurred over a million years after the Big Bang, rather than in the first nanosecond of the universe's life
(E) caused more severe distortion in the microwave background radiation than have been detected to this point

5 
 5. Which of the following is one of the principles put forth by the analogy of the ice cubes used in  bold lines in First Paragraph ?

(A) Ice cubes appear in the same form as galaxies, and have many of the same properties.
(B) In the years after our galaxy was formed, regions in space formed at different rates.
(C) Density fluctuations eventually yielded the galaxies and galaxy clusters.
(D) Ice cubes show internal imperfections that are relevant to the formation of matter.
(E) The universe has a crystalline Structure

6 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that all models for generating fluctuations on a cosmological scale maintain that the fabric of space

(A) do not require a phase transition to have formed the various ripples in the fabric of space
(B) can be explored by studying the way water undergoes phase changes
(C) underwent a time of change in which matter altered the way it was dispersed
(D) occurred after energy, in the form of electromagnetic radiation or photons, stabilized
(E) constituted seeds for galaxy formation

7 
 7. According to the passage, which of the following is the purpose of the measurements mentioned in ( Highlighted ) lines?

(A) To determine the time when electromagnetic radiation of photons stabilized
(B) To find a large amount of distortion which could then argue for a late phase transition
(C) To prove that there is a greater extent of distortion in microwave background radiation than has been observed
(D) To test the validity of alternate theories regarding the number of lumps and ripples in the fabric of space
(E) To determine the amount of distortion in microwave background radiation, which would help determine the relative time of the phase transition

dabaobao · Answer

Got 3/3 correct in 5:48 min including 2:50 min to read the passage!

Passage Map: 
1) The question is when the phase transition took place. => Transition when?
2) The idea of a late phase transition is appealing => Late Transition
3) Alternative theories => Early transition is unlikely

NoMatterWhat · Answer

1) According to the passage, which of the following would be regarded as most helpful in assessing competing hypotheses concerning the formation of galaxies?

as stated in the passage
"Measurements of distortions in the microwave background radiation would provide the best tests of the new model."

Option C: Correct

2) Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the passage?

A) Considering the possibility of a late-phase transition in the formation of the galaxies: Exactly what passage is trying to say; Hence, it is Correct
B) Analyzing the causes of the fluctuations in matter and energy in galaxy formation: Just a few words from 1st Para 
C) Describing the way in which galaxies formed after the Big Bang, and proposing other hypotheses: Passage not proposing anything...it is just analyzing and comparing
D) Comparing various theories regarding late phase transition, and assessing ways of judging their validity: not various theories about late phase transition..there is just one about it.
E) Examining the possibility of a late phase transition in the formation of microwave background radiation: "in the formation of microwave background radiation" ...it is weird

3) The author brings up information about the uniformity of microwave background radiation in order to

it is between B and C

C) explore why a late phase transition did not leave greater distortion in the fabric of microwave background radiation

if you see it closely, it is fairly opposite what passage it trying to convey

B) propose that an early phase transition is less likely

It is very much what passage is trying to tell us after taking microwave radiation distortion as a piece of evidence.

thinkvision · Answer

1. Correct Choice C: The phrase accurate information regarding the amount of distortion in microwave background radiation in the answer choice is an accurate paraphrase of the sentence in the third paragraph, which states that measurements of distortions in the microwave background radiation would provide the best tests of the new model.

2. Correct Choice A: The first paragraph defines phase transition, and the subsequent paragraphs describe the late phase transition hypothesis and mention a possible test that could affect the hypothesis.

3. Correct Choice B: By stating that alternative theories in which phase transitions happened earlier have difficulty explaining how fluctuations can grow to become seeds for galaxy formation without distorting the microwave background radiation to a greater extent than has been observed, the author demonstrates that these alternative theories are less likely to be correct.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

To answer  question #4  correctly one needs to have understanding of first paragraph and then second paragraph, Only second paragraph might not help to answer the question and without reading the second paragraph the correct answer is not possible. What second paragraph says:

The idea of a late phase transition is appealing because  such a change would have occurred after energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, or of photons, stabilized. This means a late phase transition would have had practically no effect on the microwave background radiation, which pervades the universe and appears uniform in every direction.

Let's have a look at the answer choices.

A) affected the time of the phase transition  more than was previously thought

The above text in Red is trying to make this choices unnecessarily extreme.

B) are consistent with the uniformity of microwave background radiation

This is correct!

C) were responsible for the  origins of fluctuations  on a cosmological scale.

True but not true for the question specifically. We have no knowledge about the origins of fluctuations. This option slightly deviates and becomes out of the scope.

D) occurred  over a million years  after the Big Bang, rather than in the first nanosecond of the universe's life

Out of scope as we don't have any idea the number of years.

E)  caused more severe distortion  in the microwave background radiation than have been detected to this point.

Extreme language has been used which we don't have any idea about.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Question #5 is a really good question to gauge your level of readiness in the RC section in the GMAT. First concentrate on the question.

5) Which of the following is one of the principles put forth by the analogy of the ice cubes used in bold lines in First Paragraph?

Now read the analogy being discussed in the question.

When water freezes to form an ice cube, for example,  parts often freeze at slightly different rates to form regions of ice , seen as fractured lines and planes that do not quite mesh.

A, D  and  E  are easy eliminations,  D  is wrong because of the use of  "internal imperfections"  as it makes the choice we limited in scope and hence extreme.

B is very tricky because the use of  "different rates" . I guess everyone selected this option just because they read something familiar and that is the  "different rates".

B) In the years  after  our galaxy was formed, regions in space formed at different rates.

A one word makes the choice a trash and that is the word "after". Once the galaxy is formed who cares then? we are concerned about the formation of the galaxy and not the formation of regions within the galaxy.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

6) It can be inferred from the passage that all models for generating fluctuations on a cosmological scale maintain that the fabric of space

First this is an inference question and chances are very high to get the wrong answer by selecting a choice which is using some familiar words from the passage. In majority of the cases the correct answer isn't explicitly written in the passage for inference questions. A copy/paste from the passage in the answer choice is almost always a trap and is wring.

Reading the first-half of the first paragraph is helpful to answer this question.

Certain theorists believe that some time after the Big Bang, fluctuations in the flow of matter and energy constituted seeds for galaxy formation. All models for generating fluctuations on a cosmological scale   require a phase transition  --a change in the fabric of space to produce lumps and ripples in the distribution of matter.

Answer  choices A, B  and  D  are nowhere near and  E  is a trap answer for the reason discussed above and hence  C  is the true.

Selecting an answer choice just because it is discussed in the passage is very wrong approach for the inference questions. E is a fact which is discussed in the passage but its connection with the question is very weak.

Answer: C

krndatta · Answer

dabaobao 
 Sajjad1994

Hi can you please explain Q3 option C? 
Why cannot be option C be an answer?

Thanks

Carcass · Answer

Alternative theories in which  phase transitions happened earlier   have difficulty explaining how fluctuations can grow   to become seeds for galaxy formation   without distorting the microwave background radiation to a greater extent   than has been observed

So it is true the flip side of the story IF X happens earlier we do have difficulties. If NOT happens wed o not have . So

information about uniformity of microwave background radiation in order to

are used to show B

C is NOT mentioned specifically  a late phase

regards

VerbalBot · Answer

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Certain theorists believe that some time after the Big Bang

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Certain theorists believe that some time after the Big Bang

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