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- Wed May 31, 2017 11:19 am
#35550
Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14311)
The correct answer choice is (B)
This is another question conducive to prephrasing, so we should try to get a good idea of the answer
before considering the choices provided. Once again, passage organization is key. The author
outlines the reasons why Fermi and others failed to recognize that atoms were being split in the third
paragraph of the passage (lines 30-36). The most significant reason involves Fermi’s expectation
that the radioactive substances produced by neutron bombardment of uranium would all be elements
close to uranium in nuclear composition. They were not, as Hahn and Meitner demonstrated, which
was immensely helpful in establishing the missing theoretical link.
Answer choice (A): There is no reason to believe that the physicists conducting the experiments in
neutron bombardment of uranium differed in the research techniques they were using, so that using
the same techniques would have been helpful.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Since Fermi presumed that the nuclear
composition of his by-products would be elements close to uranium, he never identified these
products as scientifically significant, and failed to make the discoveries later made by Hahn and
Meitner. It is reasonable to assume that physicists would have discovered nuclear fission sooner than
they did if they did not have these particular expectations.
Answer choice (C): This is the Opposite answer. If physicists had not been aware of the theoretical
possibility that atoms can be split, they may have taken even longer to realize that they were
witnessing nuclear fission.
Answer choice (D): There is no reason to believe that the sheer number of physicists working on
neutron bombardment of uranium would have somehow reduced the amount of time it took to realize
that atoms were being split.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice falls outside the scope of the passage. It is unclear whether
using substances other than uranium for neutron bombardment would have produced more
meaningful results.
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14311)
The correct answer choice is (B)
This is another question conducive to prephrasing, so we should try to get a good idea of the answer
before considering the choices provided. Once again, passage organization is key. The author
outlines the reasons why Fermi and others failed to recognize that atoms were being split in the third
paragraph of the passage (lines 30-36). The most significant reason involves Fermi’s expectation
that the radioactive substances produced by neutron bombardment of uranium would all be elements
close to uranium in nuclear composition. They were not, as Hahn and Meitner demonstrated, which
was immensely helpful in establishing the missing theoretical link.
Answer choice (A): There is no reason to believe that the physicists conducting the experiments in
neutron bombardment of uranium differed in the research techniques they were using, so that using
the same techniques would have been helpful.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Since Fermi presumed that the nuclear
composition of his by-products would be elements close to uranium, he never identified these
products as scientifically significant, and failed to make the discoveries later made by Hahn and
Meitner. It is reasonable to assume that physicists would have discovered nuclear fission sooner than
they did if they did not have these particular expectations.
Answer choice (C): This is the Opposite answer. If physicists had not been aware of the theoretical
possibility that atoms can be split, they may have taken even longer to realize that they were
witnessing nuclear fission.
Answer choice (D): There is no reason to believe that the sheer number of physicists working on
neutron bombardment of uranium would have somehow reduced the amount of time it took to realize
that atoms were being split.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice falls outside the scope of the passage. It is unclear whether
using substances other than uranium for neutron bombardment would have produced more
meaningful results.