NASA's Aspera mission, led by Carlos Vargas, will investigate the circumgalactic medium (CGM), the huge swaths of low-density gas that...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
NASA's Aspera mission, led by Carlos Vargas, will investigate the circumgalactic medium (CGM), the huge swaths of low-density gas that fill and surround galaxies. Specifically, the team will focus on portions of the gas that exist in a 'warm-hot' phase: these portions haven't previously been observable but are thought to fuel new star formation and hold most of the mass that makes up a galaxy. Using a telescope capable of revealing these parts of the CGM, the Aspera mission should help answer long-standing questions about how galaxies emerge, change, and even interact.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
As the leader of NASA's Aspera mission, Vargas will be the first person to investigate the makeup of the CGM.
Although galaxies that are surrounded by the CGM have been studied, researchers have been unable to directly observe low-density gas in the CGM in the 'warm-hot' phase.
Researchers don't yet have a complete understanding of the process of galaxy evolution but have raised the possibility that galaxies interact with each other at times.
The Aspera mission is expected to produce the first direct observations of CGM gas in the 'warm-hot' phase, which likely has an important role in the evolution of galaxies.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| NASA's Aspera mission, led by Carlos Vargas, will investigate the circumgalactic medium (CGM), the huge swaths of low-density gas that fill and surround galaxies. |
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| Specifically, the team will focus on portions of the gas that exist in a 'warm-hot' phase: these portions haven't previously been observable but are thought to fuel new star formation and hold most of the mass that makes up a galaxy. |
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| Using a telescope capable of revealing these parts of the CGM, the Aspera mission should help answer long-standing questions about how galaxies emerge, change, and even interact. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: NASA's Aspera mission will use new telescope technology to observe previously undetectable 'warm-hot' gas in the CGM, which should help scientists understand galaxy evolution.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces the Aspera mission and its target (CGM), then explains why focusing on the 'warm-hot' phase matters (it's unobservable but crucial for galaxies), and concludes by describing how the mission's new observational capabilities should advance our understanding of galaxy evolution.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
Now that we understand the passage, let's nail down exactly what the question wants from us:
- What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message/purpose of the passage
- Any limiting keywords? 'best states' - we need the most accurate and complete representation
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
Let's first think about what the right answer should tell us:
- The correct answer should capture three key elements:
- The Aspera mission as the central focus
- The breakthrough aspect - first observations of 'warm-hot' CGM gas
- The broader significance - understanding galaxy evolution
- The right answer should connect the mission's observational capability to the scientific importance of what it will discover. It shouldn't get bogged down in details about leadership or just describe the current problem without mentioning the solution.
As the leader of NASA's Aspera mission, Vargas will be the first person to investigate the makeup of the CGM.
- Focuses on Vargas being 'the first person' rather than the mission's scientific goals
- Misses the key point about 'warm-hot' phase gas and galaxy evolution
Although galaxies that are surrounded by the CGM have been studied, researchers have been unable to directly observe low-density gas in the CGM in the 'warm-hot' phase.
- Only describes the current limitation (can't observe the gas) without mentioning the solution
- Doesn't mention the Aspera mission at all
Researchers don't yet have a complete understanding of the process of galaxy evolution but have raised the possibility that galaxies interact with each other at times.
- Too vague about galaxy research in general
- Completely omits the Aspera mission and CGM focus
- Presents galaxy interaction as just a 'possibility' rather than something the mission will investigate
The Aspera mission is expected to produce the first direct observations of CGM gas in the 'warm-hot' phase, which likely has an important role in the evolution of galaxies.
- Identifies the Aspera mission as producing 'first direct observations' of the 'warm-hot' CGM gas
- Connects this breakthrough to the broader significance for galaxy evolution
- Matches our prethinking perfectly by combining the observational innovation with scientific importance