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The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in

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The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   16 Aug 2019, 00:24
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The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in the universe that are devoid of stars as had long been thought. Rather, they are dark because of interstellar dust that hides the stars behind it. Although its visual effect is so pronounced, dust is only a minor constituent of the material, extremely low in density, that lies between the stars. Dust accounts for about one percent of the total mass of interstellar matter. The rest is hydrogen and helium gas, with small amounts of other elements. The interstellar material, rather like terrestrial clouds, comes in all shapes and sizes. The average density of interstellar material in the vicinity of our Sun is 1,000 to 10,000 times less than the best terrestrial laboratory vacuum. It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant. Optical astronomy is most directly affected, for although interstellar gas is perfectly transparent, the dust is not.
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17. According to the passage, which of the following is a direct perceptual consequence of interstellar dust?

(A) Some stars are rendered invisible to observers on Earth.
(B) Many visible stars are made to seem brighter than they really are.
(C) The presence of hydrogen and helium gas is revealed.
(D) The night sky appears dusty at all times to observers on Earth.
(E) The dust is conspicuously visible against a background of bright stars.

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18. It can be inferred from the passage that the density of interstellar material is

(A) higher where distances between the stars are shorter
(B) equal to that of interstellar dust
(C) unusually low in the vicinity of our Sun
(D) independent of the incidence of gaseous components
(E) not homogeneous throughout interstellar space

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19. It can be inferred from the passage that it is because space is so vast that

(A) little of the interstellar material in it seems substantial
(B) normal units of volume seem futile for measurements of density
(C) stars can be far enough from Earth to be obscured even by very sparsely distributed matter
(D) interstellar gases can, for all practical purposes, be regarded as transparent
(E) optical astronomy would be of little use even if no interstellar dust existed


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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   18 Aug 2019, 21:20
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Question 17 - According to the passage which of the following is a direct perceptual consequence of interstellar dust?

The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in the universe that are devoid of stars as had long been thought. Rather, they are dark because of interstellar dust that hides the stars behind it.

Optical astronomy is most directly affected, for although interstellar gas is perfectly transparent,the dust is not.

The passage very clearly establishes the fact that interstellar dust hides the stars. Therefore, it is the direct perceptual consequence of interstellar dust.

Choice A - Some stars are rendered invisible to observers on Earth.


Question 18 - It can be inferred from the passage that the density of interstellar material is

The interstellar material, rather like terrestrial clouds, comes in all shapes and sizes.

Choice E - not homogeneous throughout interstellar space

(A) higher where distances between the stars are shorter - no evidence in the passage for this.
(B) equal to that of interstellar dust - No, because the interstellar material is a combination of dust and gas.
(C) unusually low in the vicinity of our Sun - Tricky choice. Yes the density of interstellar material in the vicinity of the sun is 1000 to 10,000 times less than the best terrestrial laboratory vacuum. But this is only in comparison to terrestrial vacuum. We do not know if it is unusually low in comparison with other areas of interstellar space.
(D) independent of the incidence of gaseous components - Nowhere in the passage does it say that, but also incorrect from the scientific point of view.
(E) not homogeneous throughout interstellar space - YES

Question 19 - It can be inferred from the passage that it is because space is so vast that

It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant.Optical astronomy is most directly affected, for although interstellar gas is perfectly transparent, the dust is not.

The passage states that the vastness of space makes it possible for so little material per unit volume to obscure the stars.

Choice C - stars can be far enough from Earth to be obscured even by very sparsely distributed matter

(A) little of the interstellar material in it seems substantial - The passage does not say the vastness of space makes little material seem substantial. It only says that little material can have significant effect.
(B) normal units of volume seem futile for measurements of density - the passage does not say this
(C) stars can be far enough from Earth to be obscured even by very sparsely distributed matter - YES
(D) interstellar gases can, for all practical purposes, be regarded as transparent - the passage does not tie the transparency of the interstellar gases to the vastness of space, and also from the scientific point of view, gases are always transparent - irrespective of the volume they occupy.
(E) optical astronomy would be of little use even if no interstellar dust existed - Wrong - Optical astronomy would benefit greatly as it is the interstellar dust hides the stars.
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   16 Feb 2020, 23:41
For q18, why not A?

I referred to these two lines to guide my answer to A "The average density of interstellar material in the vicinity of our Sun is 1,000 to 10,000 times less than the best terrestrial laboratory vacuum. It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant. "

I basically understood this line as the following: the density of interstellar material is so low due to enormous distances between stars. So A makes sense to me that "the density of interstellar material is higher where the distances between stars are shorter." Please explain why did I get this question wrong
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   17 Feb 2020, 12:07
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For q18, why not A?

I referred to these two lines to guide my answer to A "The average density of interstellar material in the vicinity of our Sun is 1,000 to 10,000 times less than the best terrestrial laboratory vacuum. It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant. "

I basically understood this line as the following: the density of interstellar material is so low due to enormous distances between stars. So A makes sense to me that "the density of interstellar material is higher where the distances between stars are shorter." Please explain why did I get this question wrong




Because of the fact that the interstellar distances are "enormous", the density (material per unit of volume) BECOMES so significant. That means if the distances were short, then the density would not become so significant. So, A is wrong.
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   17 Feb 2020, 15:47
theBrahmaTiger wrote:
mind wrote:
For q18, why not A?

I referred to these two lines to guide my answer to A "The average density of interstellar material in the vicinity of our Sun is 1,000 to 10,000 times less than the best terrestrial laboratory vacuum. It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant. "

I basically understood this line as the following: the density of interstellar material is so low due to enormous distances between stars. So A makes sense to me that "the density of interstellar material is higher where the distances between stars are shorter." Please explain why did I get this question wrong




Because of the fact that the interstellar distances are "enormous", the density (material per unit of volume) BECOMES so significant. That means if the distances were short, then the density would not become so significant. So, A is wrong.



Got it now, thanks for the explanation
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   19 Sep 2021, 09:31
I didn't understand the correct answer of question 19. Option A seems more logical compared to variant C. Could you explain in a much simpler way pls?
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   19 Sep 2021, 09:55
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Samamammadova8888 wrote:
I didn't understand the correct answer of question 19. Option A seems more logical compared to variant C. Could you explain in a much simpler way pls?


What means "seems more logical" ???
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   19 Sep 2021, 09:59
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Carcass wrote:
Samamammadova8888 wrote:
I didn't understand the correct answer of question 19. Option A seems more logical compared to variant C. Could you explain in a much simpler way pls?


What means "seems more logical" ???



"It is only because of the enormous interstellar distances that so little material per unit of volume becomes so significant"
Due to this sentence, can't we infer option A?
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   19 Sep 2021, 10:49
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Ok

let try to understand the two options

the passage states clearly the following

Although its visual effect is so pronounced, dust is only a minor constituent of the material, extremely low in density, that lies between the stars.

The phrase above means that EVEN THOUGH dust is a minor part in the interstellar space ITS EFFECT to hide stars or planet is HUGE

so it comes to C as correct answer

However,

(A) little of the interstellar material in it seems substantial

First of all substantial is different from significant. Something could be important (significant) and NOT substantial

Secondly A is false because we do know that dust is NOT substantial. Itis a minor part of the interstellar material but its effect to obscure the celestial corps is HUGE. But its presence is a minor part. Most of the matter is made by

Dust accounts for about one percent of the total mass of interstellar matter. The rest is hydrogen and helium gas, with small amounts of other elements.

So, A is false

Honestly, I do not know why the students DO NOT read. It is simply this. Be focus and read.

IF all the students did this, the GRE would be a frolic through the park

Regards
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   28 Jul 2022, 19:44
Carcass wrote:
Samamammadova8888 wrote:
I didn't understand the correct answer of question 19. Option A seems more logical compared to variant C. Could you explain in a much simpler way pls?


What means "seems more logical" ???


Great explanation!! Carcass
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Re: The dark regions in the starry night sky are not pockets in [#permalink] New post   11 Oct 2024, 17:53
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