Question

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
Recent important scientific findings have emerged from crossing the boundaries of scientific fields. They stem from physicists collaborating with biologists, sociologists and others, to answer questions about our world. But physicists and their potential collaborators often find their cultures out of sync. For one, physicists often discard a lot of information while extracting broad patterns; for other scientists, information is not readily disposed. Further, many non-physicists are uncomfortable with mathematical models. Still, the desire to work on something new and different is real, and there are clear benefits from the collision of views.

• A. Physicists have successfully buried their differences on research methods applied in other fields in their desire to find answers to baffling scientific questions.
• B. Large data sets and mathematical models in physics research combined with the research methods of non-physicist collaborators have yielded important scientific findings.
• C. The desire to diversify their research and answer important questions has led to several collaborations between physicists and other social scientists.
• D. Despite differences in their research styles, physicists’ research collaborations with scholars from other disciplines have yielded important research findings.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To determine the best summary that captures the essence of the passage, we need to analyze the main points conveyed in the text. The passage discusses the phenomenon of collaboration between physicists and other scientists from different fields such as biology and sociology. It acknowledges that even though these collaborations face cultural differences and methodological challenges—specifically, physicists' approach of discarding information versus other scientists' preference to retain data, and non-physicists' discomfort with mathematical models—these collaborations have led to significant scientific discoveries. The core message of the passage highlights the importance and benefits of these interdisciplinary collaborations despite the existing challenges.

Let's assess the given options:

• The first option suggests physicists have completely resolved their methodological differences, which is misleading as the passage mainly acknowledges existing differences.
• The second option emphasizes the combination of large data sets and mathematical models with methods of non-physicists, which isn't fully capturing the essence of the passage that centers on the broader benefit of collaboration.
• The third option is slightly narrower in focus by implying collaborations mainly for diversification, while the passage specifies the pursuit of significant scientific questions.
• The fourth option precisely summarizes the passage by stating that despite the methodological differences, collaborations between physicists and other scholars have resulted in important research findings, capturing both the challenges and benefits noted in the passage.

Therefore, the most accurate summary of the passage is: Despite differences in their research styles, physicists’ research collaborations with scholars from other disciplines have yielded important research findings.