SAT Short reading passage question

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1

<p>Black holes are the most efficient engines of destruction known to humanity. Their intense gravity is a one-way ticket to oblivion, and material spiraling into them can heat up to millions of degrees and glow brightly. Yet, they arenot all-powerful. Even supermassive black holes are miniscule by cosmic standards. They typically account for less than one percent of their galaxy's mass. Accordingly, astronomers long assumed that supermassive holes, let alone their smaller cousins, would have little effect beyond their immediate neighborhoods. So it has come as a surprise over the past decade that black hole activity is closely intertwined with star formation occurring farther out in the galaxy.</p>

<ol>
<li>Which best describes the function of the statement in lines 10-13 ("So it...galaxy")?</li>
</ol>

<p>A) It summarizes the points made in the first four lines of the passage.
B) It provides support for the argument asserted in the preceding statement.
C) It introduces a new view of information presented earlier in the passage.
D) It challenges recent scientific findings.
E) It offers examples to support a theory.</p>

<p>Can you please explain to me why it is not D?</p>

2

<p>Hmm this is bit of a tricky one but I would say it hinges on the word ‘recent’ in option D</p>

<p>The fact that the initial assumption of black holes having little effect beyond their neighborhood is hardly a ‘recent’ scientific discovery</p>

<p>I would take issue with the word ‘challenge’ as well as the tone of the sentence doesn’t really suggest it is ‘challenging’ something as opposed to simply presenting new information </p>

<p>It’s a tricky question though so if you managed to eliminate everything to leave yourself with choices C and D, that’s pretty good </p>

<p>Hope this helped :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks! That definitely helps!</p>