LSAT 159 | Section 2 | Reading Comprehension: Q21

RC Question 21 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Which one of the following, if true, would lend the most support to …

DISCUSSION: The first theory says the acceleration is caused by dark energy, with the simplest version being something like Einstein’s cosmological constant, and the second version being vacuum energy. So we want to strengthen this hypothesis by making it more likely.

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1. CORRECT. If many other astronomical observations require a cosmological-constant-type pressure, that strongly supports the dark energy model.
2. This would undermine the second version of the theory by suggesting vacuum energy has no effect.
3. This weakens the idea that vacuum energy from virtual particles drives acceleration.
4. This is just Hubble’s Law, which shows expansion. It doesn’t favor dark energy specifically.
5. This would support the second theory (modified gravity), which rejects dark energy.