TOEFL Reading Quiz 5 (W#05)

It is implied in the passage that a natural law _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• is something that applies to science only

• can be incontrovertibly found in the idea of determinism

• is philosophically unacceptable

• is a principle to which there is no exception

The word "unerringly" in the passage could be most easily replaced by _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• fortunately

• effortlessly

• without mistake

• with guidance

The idea of determinism is refuted in this passage based on _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• scientific proof

• data from the science and philosophy of determinism

• principles or assumptions from different fields of study

• philosophical doubt about free will

The word "minuscule" in the text is closest in meaning to _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• charged

• fast-moving

• circular

• tiny

According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about the principle of indeterminacy?

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• It was formulated based on studies in physics.

• It is philosophically unacceptable.

• It has been in existence for more than a decade.

• It is concerned with the random behavior of electrons.

The expression "emanates from" could most easily be replaced by _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• derives from

• differs from

• is in contrast to

• is subordinate to

It is implied in the passage that free will is _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• accepted by all philosophers

• a direct outcome of Werner's principle of indeterminacy

• the antithesis of determinism

• a natural law

The word "unforeseen" is closest in meaning to _____.

The idea of determinism, that no event occurs in nature without natural causes, has been postulated as a natural law yet is under attack on both scientific and philosophical grounds. Scientific laws assume that a specific set of conditions will unerringly lead to a predetermined outcome. However, studies in the field of physics have demonstrated that the location and speed of minuscule particles such as electrons are the result of random behaviors rather than predictable results determined by pre-existing conditions. As a result of these studies, the principle of indeterminacy was formulated in 1925 by Werner Heisenberg. According to this principle, only the probable behavior of an electron can be predicted. The inability to absolutely predict the behavior of electrons casts doubt on the universal applicability of a natural law of determinism. Philosophically, the principal opposition to determinism emanates from those who see humans as creatures in possession of free will. Human decisions may be influenced by previous events, but the ultimate freedom of humanity may possibly lead to unforeseen choices, those not preordained by preceding events.

• forewarned

• blind

• unappreciated

• unpredictable