PT121.S2.P3.Q17

PrepTest 121 - Section 2 - Passage 3 - Question 17

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P1

According to the theory of gravitation, every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that increases as either the mass of the particles increases, or their proximity to one another increases, or both. ███████████ ██ ████████ ██ █████ ███ ██████████ ██ ██████ █████████ ███ ███ ██████ █████████ ███

Theory of gravitation · Gravity is believed to have shaped the structure of the universe
Gravity = every particle of matter attracts every other particle based on the mass of particles and how close they are to each other
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Puzzling phenomenon · 90% of the universe seems to be missing
The observable mass isn't enough to explain the universe.
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Cosmologists' hypothesis · Dark matter
P2

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Elaborate on dark matter · Dark matter might be neutrinos
But, neutrinos have been assumed to have no mass. So, how could they be the dark matter that helps the universe take its shape? (Come back to this paragraph for details of exactly what neutrinos are.)
P3

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Elaborate on dark matter · Neutrinos do have mass, so they can, in theory, be dark matter
Research shows that neutrinos can oscillate. And oscillation requires mass. (Come back to this paragraph for details of exactly what oscillation is.)
P4

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Limits of neutrinos as dark matter · Neutrinos are at most about 20% of dark matter
There must be other particles that make up the rest of dark matter. Cosmologists still find the neutrino theory of dark matter helpful.
Passage Style
Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)
Single position
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17.

The author's attitude toward oscillation ███ ████ ██████████ ██ █████████████ ██ █████

a

satisfied that it ██████ ███ ████ ██ ████████ ████ █████████ ████ ████

Supported.

84%
b

hopeful that it ████ ██ ██████ ██ ███████████ █████ █████ ██ ████ ██████

The author never suggests that oscillation might be useful in discovering other kinds of dark matter. Rather, neutrinos might be useful in discovering other kinds of dark matter.

12%
c

concerned that it ██ █████ ██████████████ ██ ████ ████ █████████ ███████ ███ ███ ██ ████ ██████

The author never connects oscillation to the potential misconception that neutrinos account for all dark matter.

2%
d

skeptical that it ██████ █████ ███████ ████████ ███ ██ ████

Anti-supported.

3%
e

convinced that it ██████ █████ ███████ ██ ████████████ ███████

Not supported, because although the passage discusses oscillation observed in an experimental setting, the author never suggests that oscillation cannot be observed outside of an experimental setting.

1%

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