A popular theory explaining the evolution of the universe is known as the Big Bang Model.

According to
the model, at some time between ten and twenty billion years ago, all present matter and energy were
compressed into a small ball only a few kilometers in diameter. It was, in effect, an atom that contained in
the form of pure energy the fundamental components of the entire universe. Then, at a moment in time
that astronomers refer to as T = 0, the ball exploded, hurling the energy into space. Expansion occurred.
As the energy cooled, most of it became matter in the form of protons, neutrons, and electrons. These
basic particles combined to form hydrogen and helium, and continued to expand. Matter formed into
galaxies with stars and planets.

Which sentence best summarizes this passage?

A - The Big Bang theory does not account for the evolution of the universe.
B - According to the Big Bang Model, an explosion caused the formation of the universe.
C - The universe is made of hydrogen and helium.
D - The universe is more than ten billion years old.

According to this passage, when were the galaxies formed?

A - Ten billion years ago

B - Fifteen billion years ago
C - At T = 0
D - Twenty billion years ago

A popular theory explaining the evolution of the universe is known as the Big Bang Model. According to
the model, at some time between ten and twenty billion years ago, all present matter and energy were
compressed into a small ball only a few kilometers in diameter, It was, in effect, an atom that contained in
the form of pure energy the fundamental components of the entire universe. Then, at a moment in time
that astronomers refer to as T = 0, the ball exploded, hurling the energy into space. Expansion occurred.

The word compressed could best be replaced by

A - excited
B - balanced
C - reduced
D - controlled

t was, in effect, an atom that contained in the form of pure energy the fundamental components of the
entire universe. Then, at a moment in time that astronomers refer to as T = 0, the ball exploded, hurling
the energy into space. Expansion occurred. As the energy cooled, most of it became matter in the form of
protons, neutrons, and electrons. These basic particles combined to form hydrogen and helium, and
continued to expand.

The word basic is closest in meaning to

A - entire
B - fundamental
C - cooled
D - pure

Then, at a moment in time that astronomers refer to as T = 0, the ball exploded, hurling the energy into
space. Expansion occurred. As the energy cooled, most of it became matter in the form of protons,
neutrons, and electrons.
The word it refers to

A - form
B - energy
C - space
D - expansion

Click on the sentence in the passage that indicates what happened when energy cooled.

A - It was, in effect, an atom that contained in the form of pure energy the fundamental components of the
entire universe.
B - As the energy cooled, most of it became matter in the form of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
C - According to the model, at some time between ten and twenty billion years ago, all present matter and
energy were compressed into a small ball only a few kilometers in diameter.
D - A popular theory explaining the evolution of the universe is known as the Big Bang Model.

What does the author mean by the following statement?

It was, in effect, an atom that contained in the form of pure energy the fundamental components of
the entire universe

A - Everything in the universe was reduced to pure energy in one atom.

B - The universe was made up of many atoms of pure energy.
C - The effect of a pure atom in the universe was to produce energy.
D - The energy in the universe was stored in atoms.

The environment before the Big Bang is described as all of the following, except for

A - compressed matter
B - energy
C - all the components of the universe
D - protons, neutrons, and electrons

It may be inferred that

A - energy and matter are the same

B - protons, neutrons, and electrons are not matter
C - energy may be converted into matter
D - the galaxies stopped expanding as energy cooled

The following sentence can be added to the passage.

During the first seconds after the "big bang," the matter in the universe was extremely hot and
dense.
Where would it best fit into the passage?

Then, at a moment in time that astronomers refer to as T = 0, the ball exploded, hurling the energy into
space. (A) Expansion occurred. As the energy cooled, most of it became matter in the form of protons,
neutrons, and electrons. (B) These basic particles combined to form hydrogen and helium, and continued
to expand. (C) Matter formed into galaxies with stars and planets. (D)