<p>Science proceeds in fits and starts. Scientists put forward results, both theoretical and experimental. The results are then debated by the community; sometimes they are discarded, sometimes they are modified, and sometimes they provide inspiration for new and more accurate ways of understanding the universe. In other words, science proceeds along a zigzag path toward what we hope will be ultimate truth, a path that began with humanity's earliest attempts to fathom the cosmos and whose end we cannot predict.</p>
<pre><code>In line 1, "fits" most nearly means
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<p>The answer is E; I chose D.
I knew that "whim" was not the right word to describe the unexpected turns and twists in the scientific path, but I had no option. I considered E before I chose D, but "burst" was so obscure.. What does this sentence mean by "burst"?</p>
<p>Can anybody please help me understand this question? :) thanx in advance</p>
<p>I gave my own answer before looking at the correct answer. I chose E so I’ll explain my thought process even though I’m not exactly good at CR. “fits and starts” mean intermittently or in irregular intervals. I debated between D and E but in the end I discarded D because I felt that the passage actually implied that science is not all that random. It is actually a chain of ideas in which scientists get more ideas from and just expand. I would understand that sudden bursts mean the ups and downs of scientific results. * some are discarded and some are modified and others motivate more ideas *</p>
<p>the way I see it - the word whim has a tone of desire(though erratic) in it. It gives the meaning that science has its own sense of desire which is erratic and unpredictable. The passage is talking about how the progress is not smooth but jerky because of how it takes place. “Burst” seems to fit better - due to uncontrolled nature of a burst.</p>
<p>Yea I did the same thing JefferyJung did. I solved it myself and got E. I also debated between D and E. I can’t really put into words why I chose E though. In my head I thought that by unexpected whims they meant that the scientists had some sort of emotion that made them do it which isn’t right. Also because its kinda saying they did it arbitrarily and sudden bursts seems best to fit that description</p>