PrepTest 128 - Section 1 - Passage 4 - Question 27

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One of the foundations of scientific research is that an experimental result is credible only if it can be replicated—only if performing the experiment a second time leads to the same result. ███

Foundation of science · Experimental results are credible only if they are replicable

Replicable = doing experiment again leads to same result.

Problem · Somm. and Ott (S and O) came up with a new physical system

In this system, the tiniest change in starting conditions can change results radically. (What does this mean? Not sure.) This system can be represented by a computer model involving a particle's motion within a force field. (Not sure what this means either.)

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Analogy · S and O's new system is similar to riddled basins of attraction

Definition of basin of attraction · Bodies of water have basins of attaction

The basin for a particular body of water = area of land where, whenever water is spilled on it, it goes toward that body of water.

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Definition of riddled basins · Can't predict where water will flow for some points in between basins

The boundaries between these basins are riddled with physical irregulataries, which is why you can't tell where the water will flow. Need to spill the water at a point and observe. If you spill at any other point, even one right next to it, the water might flow toward a different body of water.

S and O's system · The riddled boundary expands to every single point

So, rather than just the boundary line between two bodies of water being riddled, every point in the whole system is riddled. You can't tell even the general destination of a particle from any starting point.

Distinction between S and O's system and chaos · In chaos, you can predict general destination, but not path or exact destination

In S and O's system, you can't predict any of the three things.

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Implication of S and O's system · Other similar systems might exist, and if so, this would question the replication requirement

It's possible that some experiments can't be replicated because even the slightest, unnoticeable change in starting conditions leads to different results.

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27.

Which one of the following ████ ███████ ███ ████ ██████ ██ ████████████ ██ ████ ████ ██ ████ ██ ███ ████████

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Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)

Structure

The author defines this phrase in P2: “The basin of attraction for a body of water is the area of land that, whenever water is spilled on it, always directs the spilled water to that body.”

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We’re given the definition of “basin of attraction.” Nothing in that definition indicates we can or cannot predict the path of the water spilled. In addition, the definition involves a body of water

23%

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We’re given the definition of “basin of attraction.” Nothing in that definition indicates that we can or cannot predict the path of water spilled.

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We’re given the definition of “basin of attraction.” Nothing in that definition indicates that a basin of attraction doesn’t have physical irregularities.

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P2 states this definition.

54%

the set of ███ ██████ ██ ██ ████ ██ ████ ███ █████ █████ ███████ ██ ████ █████ ████ ██████ ██ ███ ████ █████ ███████████

We’re given the definition of “basin of attraction.” We know that water spilled at any point within a particular basin of attraction will go to a particular body of water, but we don’t know that they will go to the exact same destination within that body of water. (In other words, we know the general destination is the same, but we don’t know the exact destination is the same.)

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PrepTest 128 - Section 1 - Passage 4 - Question 27

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