By the beginning of the 20th century, several hypotheses were being proposed, suggesting a paradigm shift in our understanding of the universe. However, the clinching evidence was provided by experimental measurements of the position of a star which was directly behind our sun. Which of the following inference(s) may be drawn from the above passage? i. Our understanding of the universe changes based on the positions of stars ii. Paradigm shifts usually occur at the beginning of centuries iii. Stars are important objects in the universe iv. Experimental evidence was important in confirming this paradigm shift A. i and ii B. iv only C. i and iv D. iii and iv

GATE 2014 · General Aptitude · Passage Reading · medium

Answer: Option B (iv only) is correct. Experimental evidence was explicitly described as the clinching confirmation of the paradigm shift; no other statement among i, ii, iii is directly inferable from the passage.

  1. Evaluate statement i: Statement i says 'Our understanding of the universe changes based on the positions of stars'. The passage says one star's position provided evidence for a paradigm shift — this is a specific instance, not a general rule about how understanding changes. This is an overgeneralisation.
  2. Evaluate statement ii: Statement ii says 'Paradigm shifts usually occur at the beginning of centuries'. The passage mentions one event at the beginning of the 20th century. No general claim about timing of paradigm shifts is made in the passage.
  3. Evaluate statement iii: Statement iii says 'Stars are important objects in the universe'. While stars are mentioned, the passage does not make any claim about the importance of stars in general — it describes one measurement involving one star. This is a non-sequitur inference.
  4. Evaluate statement iv: Statement iv says 'Experimental evidence was important in confirming this paradigm shift'. The passage states 'the clinching evidence was provided by experimental measurements of the position of a star'. This directly and explicitly supports statement iv — experimental measurements provided the decisive confirmation.
  5. Select the answer: Only statement iv can be validly drawn from the passage. The answer is iv only, which corresponds to option B.