To understand why thermal sensors performed differently in industrial versus laboratory settings, materials engineers designed a controlled experiment...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
To understand why thermal sensors performed differently in industrial versus laboratory settings, materials engineers designed a controlled experiment. Previous observations had revealed a puzzling pattern: while sensors maintained stable, responsive readings in lab environments, the same devices showed significant delays when responding to temperature changes in industrial applications where metal housing surrounded them. The research team's working theory centered on thermal barriers—they believed the metal housing was interfering with heat transfer to the sensors. Using identical thermal sensors, the experiment compared two conditions: direct exposure to controlled temperature changes versus enclosure in industrial-grade metal housing. Response timing to temperature fluctuations became the key measurement.
Which finding from the experiment, if true, would most directly support the engineers' hypothesis?
Both sensor groups responded to temperature changes at identical speeds, but sensors in metal housing showed more accurate final readings than unenclosed sensors.
Sensors in metal housing failed to detect any temperature changes, while unenclosed sensors responded normally to all temperature fluctuations.
Unenclosed sensors responded rapidly to temperature changes, but sensors in metal housing showed significantly delayed response times to the same temperature fluctuations.
Unenclosed sensors showed inconsistent response patterns, but sensors in metal housing demonstrated steady, predictable responses to temperature changes.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'To understand why thermal sensors performed differently in industrial versus laboratory settings, materials engineers designed a controlled experiment.' |
|
| 'Previous observations had revealed a puzzling pattern: while sensors maintained stable, responsive readings in lab environments, the same devices showed significant delays when responding to temperature changes in industrial applications where metal housing surrounded them.' |
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| 'The research team's working theory centered on thermal barriers—they believed the metal housing was interfering with heat transfer to the sensors.' |
|
| 'Using identical thermal sensors, the experiment compared two conditions: direct exposure to controlled temperature changes versus enclosure in industrial-grade metal housing.' |
|
| 'Response timing to temperature fluctuations became the key measurement.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Engineers designed an experiment to test whether metal housing causes thermal sensor delays by comparing response times of enclosed versus unenclosed sensors.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from identifying a puzzling observation (sensors work differently in different settings) to proposing an explanation (metal housing interferes with heat transfer) to designing a test of that explanation (comparing enclosed vs. unenclosed sensor response times).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which experimental finding would most directly support the engineers' hypothesis about thermal barriers.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that confirms metal housing interferes with heat transfer, specifically by showing slower response times in enclosed sensors.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most directly support' means we need the clearest, strongest evidence for their thermal barrier theory.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The engineers' hypothesis is that metal housing creates thermal barriers that interfere with heat transfer to sensors
- For this to be supported, we'd need evidence showing that sensors without metal housing respond quickly while sensors with metal housing respond more slowly to temperature changes
Both sensor groups responded to temperature changes at identical speeds, but sensors in metal housing showed more accurate final readings than unenclosed sensors.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows both groups responding at identical speeds, which contradicts the thermal barrier hypothesis
- If metal housing doesn't slow response times, then it's not creating the thermal barriers they theorized about
Sensors in metal housing failed to detect any temperature changes, while unenclosed sensors responded normally to all temperature fluctuations.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows complete sensor failure in metal housing rather than just delayed response
- This is too extreme - the original problem was delays, not complete failure
Unenclosed sensors responded rapidly to temperature changes, but sensors in metal housing showed significantly delayed response times to the same temperature fluctuations.
✓ Correct
- Shows unenclosed sensors responding rapidly while enclosed sensors show delayed responses
- This directly matches their thermal barrier hypothesis - metal housing slows heat transfer, causing response delays
Unenclosed sensors showed inconsistent response patterns, but sensors in metal housing demonstrated steady, predictable responses to temperature changes.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows the opposite pattern - unenclosed sensors having problems while enclosed sensors work steadily
- This would actually contradict their hypothesis about metal housing causing problems