PrepTest 152 - Section 3 - Passage 4 - Question 21

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Physicists posit that at first our universe was infinitesimally small and infinitely hot and dense. ██ ████ █████████ █ ██████ ██ █████████ ██████ ███████ █████████ ████ ███ ██████ ███ ██ ███ █████ █████████ ██ ██████ ███ █████

Intro topic · Big Bang

Expansion from small, dense, hot universe to larger, cooler universe

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C and C's hypothesis · Big Bang is a recurring event

Support for hypothesis · Multiverse theory

Earlier Big Bangs have occurred outside of the known universe

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Introduce entropy · Idea that disorder increases over time

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Illustration of entropy · Randomly moving objects in room

Room will tend toward disorder each time an object is moved

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Relevance of entropy to Big Bang · Raises questions about pre-Big Bang universe

If the universe tends toward disorder, how did it ever reach its starting state as small and dense in the first place? Seems too orderly, not random

C and C's hypothesis · Most likely starting state for universe is empty space

In other words, it's unlikely that the universe would have started as small and dense purely by chance

G and V's hypothesis · Seemingly empty space can create tiny big bangs

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C and C's hypothesis · Our Big Bang is was a kind of "tiny big bang" in an even larger multiverse

Significance of hypothesis · Reconciles Big Bang theory with entropy

The larger multiverse can be disordered, random, and full of empty space while still containing pockets of matter and energy for big bangs

Passage Style

Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)

Single position

21.

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

Question Type

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

Structure

This Meaning in Context question asks for the meaning of the term “cosmic bubble” in P2. We see earlier in this sentence that the Big Bang started our universe, but not the larger multiverse. Also, the larger multiverse contains things that we can never see, because they’re beyond our “cosmic bubble.” This shows us that our “cosmic bubble” is our universe (that was started by the Big Bang), and the things that are beyond our “cosmic bubble” fall into the larger multiverse.

all-encompassing larger universe

Actually, the things that are beyond our “cosmic bubble” are in the all-encompassing larger universe; our “cosmic bubble” is our own universe specifically.

universe contained in ███ ██████████

This is the meaning of “cosmic bubble.” The Big Bang started our universe, but not the larger multiverse. We can’t see the things beyond our “cosmic bubble” because they exist beyond our own universe (but within the larger multiverse); our “cosmic bubble” refers to our own universe.

82%

inflation following a ███ ████

The “cosmic bubble” refers to our own universe; inflation was the process of the Big Bang.

theoretical preconceptions

The “cosmic bubble” refers to our own universe, not theoretical preconceptions.

11%

low entropy state

The low entropy state was the starting condition of our own universe; this is not what the term “cosmic bubble” refers to.

PrepTest 152 - Section 3 - Passage 4 - Question 21

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