Directions How to Answer

Aptitude Test Topic: Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension questions are designed to test a wide range of abilities that are required in order to read and understand the kinds of prose commonly encountered in advanced studies.

Directions

Directions

This passage is accompanied by questions about its content. For each question, select the best answer among the five choices. Answer all questions on the basis of what the passage states or implies.

To give the answer click/tap the option alphabet for your answer choice. for correct answer green check and for wrong answer a red cross will appear along with a button to show explanation with or without video of the question answer.

Reading Comprehension: Medium Passage Practice MCQ

Newton’s surprising success at developing the laws of motion, as well as the development and refinement of other physical laws, led to the idea of scientific determinism. The first expression of this principle was in the beginning of the nineteenth century by Laplace, a French scientist. Laplace argued that if one knew the position and velocity of all the particles in the universe at a given time, the laws of physics would be able to predict the future state of the universe.

Scientific determinism held sway over a great many scientists until the early twentieth century, when the quantum mechanics revolution occurred. Quantum mechanics introduced the world to the idea of the uncertainty principle, which stated that it was impossible to accurately measure both the position and the velocity of a particle at one time. Because Laplace’s omniscience could never occur, even in theory, the principle of scientific determinism was thrown into doubt. However, quantum mechanics does allow for a reduced form of scientific determinism. Even though physicists are unable to know precisely where a particle is and what its velocity is, they can determine certain probabilities about its position and velocity. These probabilities are called wave functions. By use of a formula known as the Schrodinger equation, a scientist with the wave function of a particle at a given time can calculate the particle’s future wave function. These calculations can give the particle’s position or velocity, but not both. Thus, the physicist is in possession of exactly half of the information needed to satisfy Laplace’s view of determinism. Unfortunately, under modern physics theories, that is far as any researcher can go in predicting the future.

Question Statement:

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the author’s conclusion in the passage’s final sentence?

Some physicists believe quantum mechanics will eventually be discarded in favour of a new theory.

Physicists still use Newton’s laws of motion to calculate the velocities and positions of planets and stars.

Even if the position and velocity of a particle were known, predicting the future would be impossible because there are too many other variables to calculate.

There is little to no chance that the modern theory of quantum mechanics will be overturned by another theory.

No scientists are pursuing studies in the field of determinism

Explanation:

Correct Answer: D

This is an apply the information question. It is similar to a Critical Reasoning strengthen question. The author’s conclusion and premise are:

Premise: Quantum mechanics introduced the world to the idea of the uncertainty principle, which stated that it was impossible to accurately measure both the position and the velocity of a particle at one time.

Conclusion: Under modern physics theories, exactly half of the information needed to satisfy determinism is available and that is as far as any researcher can go in predicting the future.

This argument relies on the assumption that quantum mechanics is correct and that scientists will never be able to accurately measure both the position and velocity of a particle.

Choice D strengthens the argument by indicating quantum mechanics is in fact correct in its assertions of uncertainty.

Choice A would weaken the argument by indicating that perhaps quantum mechanics is wrong.

Choice B is irrelevant because the argument hinges on quantum mechanics.

Choice C does not address the author’s argument. It introduces another barrier to predicting the future, but is not relevant to the conclusion and premise in the passage.

Choice E has no bearing on the argument as well.

Question: 10 Test: 14 of 18 Next Test

Tests

You are taking Aptitude Test No. 14

Each aptitude test is comprised of 10 except the last test which might have fewer than 10 in some topics.

You are at question (MCQ) number 10 and Test Number 14 of Reading Comprehension: Medium Passage. To deal with Reading Comprehension questions, you must take lesson on the subject. In case of science and Art subjects revise your text books and in case of general aptitude topics take lessons from the topic page.

The question: Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the author’s conclusion in the passage’s fina .... with options: Some physicists believe quantum mechanics will eventually be discarded in favour of a new theory. , Physicists still use Newton’s laws of motion to calculate the velocities and positions of planets and stars. , Even if the position and velocity of a particle were known, predicting the future would be impossible because there are too many other variables to calculate., There is little to no chance that the modern theory of quantum mechanics will be overturned by another theory. can be solved with the concepts and understanding of Reading Comprehension.