Early applications of nuclear technology focused primarily on weapons development, leading to widespread public fear about atomic research. This weapo...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Early applications of nuclear technology focused primarily on weapons development, leading to widespread public fear about atomic research. This weapons-first approach, however, obscured the broader scientific potential that researchers had recognized from the beginning. Scientists like Enrico Fermi had long understood that controlled nuclear reactions could generate electricity, power ships, and advance medical treatments. The military applications, while historically significant, represented only a fraction of nuclear technology's possible uses, yet they dominated public perception for decades.
What does the text most strongly suggest about nuclear technology?
It was developed primarily for military purposes despite scientists' awareness of its peaceful applications.
It became associated with negative public perceptions due to an initial focus that overshadowed its broader potential.
It has been unfairly feared by the public, who have failed to understand the beneficial intentions of most nuclear researchers.
It created a scientific tradition of dual-use research that continues to influence how new technologies are developed and perceived.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Early applications of nuclear technology focused primarily on weapons development, leading to widespread public fear about atomic research." |
|
| "This weapons-first approach, however, obscured the broader scientific potential that researchers had recognized from the beginning." |
|
| "Scientists like Enrico Fermi had long understood that controlled nuclear reactions could generate electricity, power ships, and advance medical treatments." |
|
| "The military applications, while historically significant, represented only a fraction of nuclear technology's possible uses, yet they dominated public perception for decades." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The early focus on weapons applications of nuclear technology overshadowed the broader peaceful potential that scientists had recognized from the start, creating lasting negative public perceptions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that nuclear technology began with a weapons focus that caused public fear, then reveals this approach hid the broader applications scientists already understood, and concludes by showing how this narrow military focus unfairly dominated public perception for decades despite representing only a small part of nuclear technology's potential.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? What the text most strongly suggests about nuclear technology
What type of answer do we need? An inference about nuclear technology based on the passage's argument
Any limiting keywords? "most strongly suggests" - we need the inference that's best supported by the passage
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Based on our analysis, the correct answer should capture how nuclear technology became unfairly associated with negative perceptions because the early weapons focus overshadowed its broader peaceful potential
- The key elements are:
- Nuclear technology had broader potential from the beginning
- The weapons-first approach created a perception problem
- This perception problem lasted and didn't reflect the full reality of what nuclear technology could do
- So the right answer should explain how nuclear technology's reputation was shaped by an initial focus that didn't represent its full potential
It was developed primarily for military purposes despite scientists' awareness of its peaceful applications.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests nuclear technology was "developed primarily for military purposes," but the passage says early applications focused on weapons, not that the entire development was primarily military
- The passage emphasizes that scientists recognized broader potential "from the beginning," suggesting peaceful applications were always part of the vision
- What trap this represents: Confuses early application focus with overall development purpose
It became associated with negative public perceptions due to an initial focus that overshadowed its broader potential.
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures how the "weapons-first approach...obscured the broader scientific potential"
- Matches the passage's emphasis on how military applications "dominated public perception for decades"
- Aligns with our prethinking about how initial focus created lasting perception problems that didn't reflect the technology's full potential
It has been unfairly feared by the public, who have failed to understand the beneficial intentions of most nuclear researchers.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a judgment that the public fears were "unfair," which goes beyond what the passage suggests
- Claims to know about "beneficial intentions of most nuclear researchers," but the passage only mentions what scientists understood, not their intentions
- What trap this represents: Adds evaluative language and claims not supported by the passage
It created a scientific tradition of dual-use research that continues to influence how new technologies are developed and perceived.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses creating "a scientific tradition of dual-use research" that continues to influence other technologies
- The passage focuses specifically on nuclear technology's perception problem, not broader scientific traditions or ongoing influence on other fields
- Makes claims about continuing influence that aren't supported by the text