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Based on a spate of hospitable planets--or Goldilocks planets, as scie
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16 Aug 2025, 09:11
16 Aug 2025, 09:11
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Based on a spate of hospitable planets--or Goldilocks planets, as scientists affectionately dub them--recently found orbiting the stars of three distinct solar systems, astronomers have been able to (i) ________ the number of earth-like planets in the universe, a figure much higher than previously estimated.
| Blank (i) |
|---|
| A. insinuate |
| B. extrapolate |
| C. intuit | D. disprove | E. indicate |
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Re: Based on a spate of hospitable planets--or Goldilocks planets, as scie
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17 Aug 2025, 02:27
17 Aug 2025, 02:27
Expert Reply
Explanation
The sentence describes a logical process where a specific finding-the discovery of Goldilocks planets in three distinct solar systems-is used to arrive at a broader conclusion about the entire universe.
- A. insinuate: This means to suggest or hint at something bad or illicit in an indirect way. This word doesn't fit the scientific context of making a formal conclusion.
- B. extrapolate: This means to extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or a similar principle applies. This is exactly what the astronomers are doing: using a small, observed sample to estimate a much larger, unknown figure.
- C. intuit: This means to understand or work out by instinct. While intuition can play a role in science, the sentence implies a data-driven conclusion, not a gut feeling.
- D. disprove: This means to prove that something is false. The astronomers are confirming a figure, not proving it false.
- E. indicate: This means to point out or show something. While the new data does indicate a higher number, "extrapolate" more accurately describes the specific scientific process of using a small sample to infer the properties of a larger population.
The astronomers used a small sample of findings to extrapolate a much larger figure, which is a common practice in scientific estimation.
The sentence describes a logical process where a specific finding-the discovery of Goldilocks planets in three distinct solar systems-is used to arrive at a broader conclusion about the entire universe.
- A. insinuate: This means to suggest or hint at something bad or illicit in an indirect way. This word doesn't fit the scientific context of making a formal conclusion.
- B. extrapolate: This means to extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or a similar principle applies. This is exactly what the astronomers are doing: using a small, observed sample to estimate a much larger, unknown figure.
- C. intuit: This means to understand or work out by instinct. While intuition can play a role in science, the sentence implies a data-driven conclusion, not a gut feeling.
- D. disprove: This means to prove that something is false. The astronomers are confirming a figure, not proving it false.
- E. indicate: This means to point out or show something. While the new data does indicate a higher number, "extrapolate" more accurately describes the specific scientific process of using a small sample to infer the properties of a larger population.
The astronomers used a small sample of findings to extrapolate a much larger figure, which is a common practice in scientific estimation.
gmatclubot
Re: Based on a spate of hospitable planets--or Goldilocks planets, as scie [#permalink]
17 Aug 2025, 02:27
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