PrepTest 128, Section 1, Question 26
One of the foundations of scientific research is(458 more words not shown)
According to the passage, Sommerer(17 more words not shown)
- AIn the model,(30 more words not shown)
- BIn a riddled(29 more words not shown)
- CIn the model,(44 more words not shown)
- DIn a riddled(35 more words not shown)
- EIn the model,(36 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The key difference is where the unpredictability occurs. With the water analogy, we reach the troublesome boundary between basins. In the model, that boundary expands to cover the entire system.
Working the answers
- A
This gets the some-versus-all shape roughly right, which makes it tempting. But “chaotic” has a specific meaning here: the general destination remains predictable. The model has a greater degree of uncertainty than that, so we can't substitute chaotic for unpredictable and call the answer accurate.
- B
This reverses the extent of the uncertainty, putting it everywhere in the water system and only at some points in the model. It also misuses the defined term chaotic.
- CCorrect
The model extends the uncertainty to the whole force field. With the water analogy, only some points—the troublesome boundary points—prevent a prediction of the destination. This preserves the distinction we identified without confusing it with chaos.
- D
“Always” is directly contradicted. The third paragraph says spilling water at an immediately adjacent point could give it a different destination. That possibility isn't unique to the particle model.
- E
The contrast concerns nearby starting points and small changes in starting conditions, not this proposed difference between successive trials at one point. Nothing establishes the model's “always” claim or the claimed contrast with water spilled repeatedly at the same point.
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