1. The passage provides support for all of the following generalizations about large interactive systems EXCEPT:
(A) They can evolve to a critical state. - supported. theory of self-organized criticality
(B) They do not always yield to traditional analysis. - Supported. However, it has become increasingly apparent that many large complicated systems do not yield to traditional analysis.
(C) They make it impossible for observers to make any predictions about them. -
Not supported. Extreme. Can make predictions by studying particular area
(D) They are subject to the effects of chain reactions. - In a large interactive system, a minor event can start a chain reaction that leads to a catastrophe. -Supported
(E) They are subject to more minor events than major events. - Minor events can be used to analyze large interactive systems. Supported
2. According to the passage, the criticality of a sandpile is determined by the
(A) size of the grains of sand added to the sandpile - Irrelevant.
(B) number of grains of sand the sandpile contains - Irrelevant.
(C) rate at which sand is added to the sandpile - Out of Scope
(D) shape of the surface on which the sandpile rests - Out of Scope
(E) balance between the amount of sand added to and the amount lost from the sandpile -
Correct.system reaches its critical state when the amount of sand added is balanced, on average, by the amount falling off the edge of the disk.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the theory employed by the investigators mentioned in the second paragraph would lead one to predict that which one of the following would result from the addition of a grain of sand to a sandpile?
Theory - Minor Disturbance -> Minor effects and Vice-versa
(A) The grain of sand would never cause anything more than a minor disturbance. -
Correct parallel(B) The grain of sand would usually cause a minor disturbance, but would occasionally cause a small avalanche. -Will not occasionally cause something because of the minor event caused by minor disturbance.
(C) The grain of sand would usually cause either minor disturbance or a small avalanche, but would occasionally cause a catastrophic event. -Not lead to a major event
(D) The grain of sand would usually cause a catastrophic event, but would occasionally cause only a small avalanche or an event more minor disturbance. - Will not lead to a catastrophe
(E) The grain of sand would invariably cause a catastrophic event. - Incorrect. Same as above.
4. Which one of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
(A) A traditional procedure is described and its application to common situations is endorsed: its shortcomings in certain rare but critical circumstances are then revealed. No shortcomings of traditional approach instead a new approach by theorists.
(B) A common misconception is elaborated and its consequences are described as a detailed example of one of these consequences is then given. -No consequences described.
(C) A general principle is stated and supported by several examples; an exception to the rule is then considered and its importance evaluated. - Only a single example of sandpile.
(D) A number of seemingly unrelated events are categorized: the underlying processes that connect them are then detailed. Two different approaches and no links.
(E) A traditional method of analysis is discussed and the reasons for its adoption are explained; an alternative is then described and clarified by means of an example. -
Correct Method - Investigators method of analysis and why it is used. Alternative of self-organized theory and example of sandpile.5. Which one of the following is most analogous to the method of analysis employed by the investigators mentioned in the second paragraph?
Theory -> Examine each component and conclude something about large system.
(A) A pollster gathers a sample of voter preferences and on the basis of this information makes a prediction about the outcome of an election. - Icorrect. sample voter preferences are not the only components in an election.
(B) A historian examines the surviving documents detailing the history of a movement and from these documents reconstructs a chronology of the events that initiated the movement. - Incorrect. Only the surviving documents and not all the documents.
(C) A meteorologist measures the rainfall over a certain period of the year and from this data calculates the total annual rainfall for the region. - Measures rainfall for certain period only.
(D) A biologist observes the behaviour of one species of insect and from these observations generalizes about the behavior of insects as a class. - Inspects only one species behaviour.
(E) An engineer analyzes the stability of each structural element of a bridge and from these analyses draws a conclusion about the structural soundness of the bridge. -
Correct Parallel. Each element is observed.6. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with
(A) arguing against the abandonment of a traditional approach - Extreme. Not abandoning anything.
(B) describing the evolution of a radical theory. - Out of scope.
(C) reconciling conflicting points of view - No adjustment between two POVs.
(D) illustrating the superiority of a new theoretical approach -
Correct. A little extreme but better than others.
Inference : For
lack of a better theory, they assumed that in large interactive systems the response to a disturbance is proportional to that disturbance.
During the past few decades, however, it has become increasingly apparent that many large complicated systems do not yield to traditional analysis
(...New theory is proposed)(E) advocating the reconsideration of an unfashionable explanation. - No reconsiderations. Two different approaches neither one is "unfashionable"
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