Information and IdeasHardReading a hedged statement
Information and Ideas practice question
Astronomers estimate that the star is about four billion years old, although they caution that the uncertainty in that estimate is roughly a billion years in either direction.
According to the text, which of the following is true of the star's age?
- A. It is estimated with a wide margin of uncertainty.Correct
- B. It is known to be exactly four billion years.
- C. It is at least five billion years.
- D. It is less than three billion years.
Answer: A. It is estimated with a wide margin of uncertainty.
The text gives an estimate and immediately attaches 'a billion years in either direction' to it. That's a statement of large uncertainty.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. It is known to be exactly four billion years.
- 'Estimate' and 'uncertainty' rule out 'exactly'.
- C. It is at least five billion years.
- Five billion is the TOP of the plausible range, not a minimum.
- D. It is less than three billion years.
- Three billion is the BOTTOM of the range; the estimate is centred on four.
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