By running computer simulations of the development of our solar system, André Izidoro, Rajdeep Dasgupta, and colleagues concluded that the...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
By running computer simulations of the development of our solar system, André Izidoro, Rajdeep Dasgupta, and colleagues concluded that the Sun may have been surrounded by three giant dust rings before the planets started to form. The researchers suggest that the materials in the innermost ring became the four planets closest to the Sun, the materials in the middle ring produced the rest of the planets, and the materials in the outermost ring created the asteroids and other small bodies in the region beyond Neptune. In one simulation, the researchers delayed the initial formation of the middle ring, causing oversized super-Earths to begin developing from the innermost ring. The researchers therefore hypothesize that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the middle ring formed earlier in the solar system's development than the initial simulations suggested.
the timing of the initial formation of the middle ring played an important role in determining the eventual size of Earth.
if the formation of the outermost ring had occurred earlier in a simulation, all the planets would have become super-Earths.
the innermost ring actually formed into all the planets in our solar system, not just the four closest to the Sun.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "By running computer simulations of the development of our solar system, André Izidoro, Rajdeep Dasgupta, and colleagues concluded that the Sun may have been surrounded by three giant dust rings before the planets started to form." |
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| "The researchers suggest that the materials in the innermost ring became the four planets closest to the Sun, the materials in the middle ring produced the rest of the planets, and the materials in the outermost ring created the asteroids and other small bodies in the region beyond Neptune." |
|
| "In one simulation, the researchers delayed the initial formation of the middle ring, causing oversized super-Earths to begin developing from the innermost ring." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Computer simulations suggest that the timing of dust ring formation in the early solar system affected how planets developed.
Argument Flow: The researchers first established a model where three dust rings produced different parts of our solar system. Then they tested what happens when you change the timing of one ring formation, which produced different results (super-Earths instead of normal planets). This leads them to a hypothesis about the importance of timing in planet formation.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Computer simulations suggest that the timing of dust ring formation in the early solar system affected how planets developed
- The researchers first established a model where three dust rings produced different parts of our solar system
- They tested what happens when you change the timing of one ring formation, which produced different results (super-Earths instead of normal planets)
- This leads them to a hypothesis about the importance of timing in planet formation
- The key experimental evidence is that when they delayed the middle ring formation, super-Earths developed from the innermost ring instead of normal-sized planets
- This suggests that the timing of when the rings form affects the final size and type of planets that develop
- The hypothesis should connect this experimental result to a broader principle about planet formation
the middle ring formed earlier in the solar system's development than the initial simulations suggested.
✗ Incorrect
Claims the middle ring formed earlier than initially thought. This does not follow from the experiment—they deliberately delayed the middle ring and saw what happened.
the timing of the initial formation of the middle ring played an important role in determining the eventual size of Earth.
✓ Correct
States that timing of the middle ring formation affected Earth eventual size. This directly follows from the experimental evidence: when they delayed the middle ring, they got super-Earths from the inner ring.
if the formation of the outermost ring had occurred earlier in a simulation, all the planets would have become super-Earths.
✗ Incorrect
Focuses on the outermost ring forming earlier and affecting all planets. The experiment was specifically about delaying the middle ring, not the outer ring.
the innermost ring actually formed into all the planets in our solar system, not just the four closest to the Sun.
✗ Incorrect
Claims the innermost ring formed all planets, contradicting the original model. The passage clearly states each ring produced different parts of the solar system.