Set 1: Inferences (Advanced)

Explanation

Answer: A

PASSAGE

The discovery of gravitational waves in 2015 confirmed a prediction Einstein made a century earlier. These ripples in spacetime, caused by violent cosmic events like merging black holes, are extraordinarily faint—the first detected wave stretched and compressed a 4-kilometer detector by less than 1/10,000th the width of a proton. Critics initially questioned whether the signal could be distinguished from noise.

What does the passage reveal about the relationship between theoretical prediction and empirical verification?

A. Decades may separate prediction from verification due to technological limitations.✓ Correct

B. Theoretical predictions are immediately confirmable with available technology.

C. Einstein's prediction was immediately rejected by the scientific community.

D. Gravitational waves are easily detectable with standard equipment.

Detailed Explanation

This question asks you to draw a logical conclusion from the text. Century between prediction and detection; extreme measurement difficulty = technological development was required. A valid inference must be supported by evidence in the passage, even if not stated directly. Look for clues in the text that strongly suggest the answer. Avoid conclusions that require assumptions beyond what's written. Valid inferences are strongly supported by multiple pieces of evidence in the text. Be cautious of choices that go too far beyond what the passage actually states. The best inference is the one most directly supported by textual evidence.

Key Evidence:

• "prediction Einstein made a century earlier"

• "less than 1/10,000th the width of a proton"

Why others are wrong: B (It took 100 years to confirm.), C (It was 'confirmed,' not rejected.), D ('Extraordinarily faint' = extremely difficult.).