Question

It can be inferred that Pluto's original designation as a planet would have never happened if scientists had: (F) understood its size from the beginning. (G) seen the icy core of Pluto soner. (H) been able to detect the many smaller TNOs when Pluto was discovered. (J) understood the popular misconceptions about Pluto's planet-hood that would follow.

Short answer

H

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Main Idea

Understand that the question is about why Pluto was originally designated as a planet and what could have prevented it.

Analyze the Answer Choices

Examine each option to see how it relates to preventing Pluto's designation as a planet.(F) implies knowing Pluto's size initially could have made a difference.(G) suggests if the icy core had been seen sooner, it would have changed things.(H) refers to detecting many smaller Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) at the time of Pluto's discovery.(J) talks about understanding the popular misconceptions regarding Pluto's classification.

Apply Logical Reasoning

Consider if scientists had known about the many smaller TNOs, Pluto might not have been designated as a unique planet. This is because Pluto's status was in part due to the lack of known objects of similar size.

Eliminate Incorrect Answers

(G) and (J) are less relevant because the icy core and popular misconceptions likely had less impact on the initial scientific classification. (F) is valid but less definitive than (H), which directly addresses the relative uniqueness of Pluto among small celestial bodies at that time.

Choose the Best Answer

Based on the analysis, the most plausible answer is (H) since it directly addresses what could have significantly impacted Pluto's classification as a planet.

Key concepts

Inference Questions

Inference questions ask you to go beyond the text and draw conclusions or make educated guesses based on the given information. In the context of the exercise, you were asked to infer what could have prevented Pluto from being classified as a planet. Tackling inference questions requires you to:

• Identify the main idea in the passage or question.
• Examine all given options closely.
• Apply logical reasoning to infer the most likely scenario.

For example, in this problem, you needed to understand why Pluto's size and other newly discovered celestial objects (TNOs) would have influenced its original classification. Inference questions often test your ability to connect dots and make conclusions just like a detective solving a mystery.

Test-taking Strategies

Effective test-taking strategies can greatly enhance your performance on standardized tests like the ACT. Here are some key strategies you can employ:

• Read the Questions First: By reading the questions before the passage, you can focus on finding specific information in the text.
• Use Process of Elimination: Narrow down the answer choices by eliminating options that are clearly wrong. This increases your chances of selecting the right answer.
• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely. Don’t spend too long on any single question. Move on if you’re stuck and return to it later if time allows.
• Mark and Skip: If you find a question particularly challenging, mark it and come back to it after you’ve answered the easier questions.

In the Pluto question, eliminating answers that were less relevant, such as (G) and (J), made it easier to focus on more plausible choices.

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification involves categorizing entities based on shared characteristics. This system helps scientists organize vast amounts of information. In astronomy, classification helps in grouping celestial bodies based on factors like size, composition, and orbit.

Pluto’s initial classification as a planet was due to limited knowledge of similar-sized objects in the Kuiper Belt. When more Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) were discovered, it became clear that Pluto was not unique. Hence, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified Pluto as a 'dwarf planet.'

Scientific classification is essential because it:

• Provides a framework for understanding relationships between objects
• Helps in organizing knowledge logically
• Facilitates communication among scientists

Understanding why Pluto was reclassified involves looking at both historical context and advances in astronomy.