Fractal Geometry

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: render pre-fractal obsolete1% picked this

   Because of its unique forms, fractal geometry is especially adaptable to computer technology and is therefore likely to grow in importance

   This ends up being way too strong at the end (in addition to other emphasis issues en route). Our author is presenting fractals in the final paragraph as a field of math that some are excited about and others are skeptical about. There's no grounds for saying that fractal geometry is likely to render pre-fractal math obsolete. It's more likely that old math will remain, but fractal geometry will allow us to model some complex natural phenomena that old math struggles with.

   1%
2. B

   Correct85% picked this

   Though its use in the generation of extremely complex forms makes fractal geometry an intriguing new mathematical theory, it is not yet universally regarded

   Why this is right

   This answer is a little surprising in terms of the fact that the main clause emphasizes the mathematicians who are skeptical that fractal geometry will be super useful. Since the passage contained a lot of excitement about fractal geometry, it would have been more typical for the answer to say, "Though not yet universally regarded as an important new math, fractal geometry is an intriguing new math theory". But both the warm up clause and the main clause are supported. They establish the noteworthiness of fractal geometry and they convey the way the author wants us to feel about this "New" thing: it's exciting, but many are far from convinced.

   Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   85%
3. C

   Out of Scope11% picked this

   Fractal geometry is significant because of its use of self-similarity, a concept that has enabled geometers to generate extremely detailed

   Out of Scope: images of natural forms The beginning of the final paragraph says that there have been captivating images of fractals, such as the Koch curve. But those are just cool looking designs. The following sentence says that enthusiasts consider it a new language for describing natural forms, but the passage never says there are any extremely detailed computer images of natural forms. The last paragraph is stressing the potential for fractal geometry to model natural forms, but it's all in the future tense.

   11%
4. D

   Too Strong2% picked this

   Using the Koch curve as a model, fractal geometers have developed a new mathematical language that is especially useful in technological contexts because

   Too Strong: especially useful Out of Scope: using Koch as model The passage talks about the Koch curve as a way to provide an example of a fractal, so that the reader can understand how a fractal can be built from a set of simple instructions. This answer, though, is saying that fractal geometers use the Koch curve as a model, which can't be found in the passage. This answer also stresses that fractal geometry is especially useful in technological contexts. We don't have any text to support that claim. The potential usefulness of fractal geometry is said to be its ability to describe complex natural and mathematical forms.

   2%
5. E

   Opposite, if Anything0% picked this

   Though fractal geometry has thus far been of great value for its capacity to define abstract mathematical shapes, it is not expected to be

   Fractal geometry hasn't been of great value for anything yet. It's main claim to fame is that it produces dope computer-generated images. But this answer claims that it has defined abstract mathematical shapes. We don't have support for that. The main clause says that it's not expected to be useful for describing ordinary natural shapes, but that seems almost contradicted by the final paragraph: they anticipate that fractal geometry's significance will rival that of calculus and expect that proficiency in fractal geometry will allow mathematicians to describe the form of a cloud.

   0%