Read the passage below.
8 Wait a minute-warp theory? Just when did warp change from an imaginary technology to
an actual theory studied by real-life scientists? The answer is 1994, when Miguel Alcubierre, a
college physics student at the time, worked out the math.
9
To understand Alcubierre's discovery, we need to talk little more about Albert Einstein.
After publishing his theory of special relativity in 1905, Einstein moved to a bigger theory:
general relativity. Built on a set of "field equations"-formulas describing space and time that
can have different solutions, depending how you use them-general relativity showed that
space is like a fabric that's warped by gravity.
10 Solving the Einstein field equations in his own way. Alcubierre found that a tiny area of
space in front of a ship could be compressed, while an area of space behind the ship iS
expanded. This would generate a "warp bubble" that could move faster than light, carrying
the ship inside like an ocean wave carries a surfer. Imagine that the wave carrying the
surfboard did not come from the wind, but instead were generated by an engine on the
surfboard itself, and you'll understand the concept of warp drive.
11 Concepts are great, but can we learn to actually squeeze and stretch space like the
Spandex of our workout pants? Ask Dr. Alcubierre today, and he'll give you a resounding
'NO."
*
Which two examples of word choice from paragraphs 8-11 of "The Warp Factor" by David
Warmflash BEST demonstrate how the author uses rhetoric to help readers better understand the
relationship between Einstein's theory and Alcubierre's discovery?