Multiple choice

Directions: In the following passage, the opening statement has been deleted. Which of the statements, given below the passage, should precede the passage?

Scientists had formerly paid little attention to asteroid dust, assuming that the burnt matter disintegrated into nanometer-sized particles that did not affect Earth's environment. Some researchers (and science fiction writers) were more interested in the damage that could be caused by the intact portion of a large asteroid striking Earth. But the size of an asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere is significantly reduced by the fireball caused by the friction of its passage. The mass turned to dust may be as much as 90 to 99 percent of the original asteroid. Where does this dust go? The uniquely well-observed descent of a particular asteroid and its resultant dust cloud gave an unexpected answer. But little formal analysis has been done on the atmospheric effect of the dust that must have been deposited in the atmosphere over ages.

  1. Scientific community is completely in the dark about the after-effects of asteroids on Earth.

  2. It is only lately that scientists have started paying attention to the phenomena of asteroid explosion in Earth's atmosphere.

  3. The environment of Earth is influenced by a myriad of factors not earlier recognised by the scientific community.

  4. When asteroids strike Earth, they make a significant impact as they do on other planets.

  5. Meteors exploding in Earth's atmosphere could play a more important role in climate than was previously recognised.
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E Correct answer
Explanation

The passage starts with the assertion that the scientists 'had formerly paid little attention to asteroid dust'. The preceding statement has to talk about the importance of this dust. This option also connects the two points: asteroid dust and pollution. 

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