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- Sat Jul 01, 2017 10:29 am
#36704
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning—AP, CE. The correct answer choice is (C)
The argument is structured as follows:
this case is introduced by the conclusion indicator “this suggests that.” Because most test-takers
expect the conclusion to appear there, they will probably not ask you to identify it—that would be
a relatively simple task. Instead, the statement referenced in question stem (“the predatory dinosaur
was following the grazing dinosaur and had matched its stride”) is a premise used to support the
main conclusion, though its relationship to the rest of the argument merits further analysis.
Because the factual findings of studies and investigations usually function as evidence supporting the
conclusion, the fact that the two sets of dinosaur tracks make abrupt turns serves the role of a pure
premise. On the basis of that observation, the author concludes (“suggesting that” is a conclusion
indicator) that the predator was following the grazing dinosaur and had matched its stride. The next
sentence, however, clarifies the importance of this finding. Because modern predatory mammals also
match the stride of prey they are chasing immediately before they strike, the author then concludes
that the same situation occurred between the two dinosaurs in question (essentially, the author
assumes that the cause of the similar tracks is the similar predatory behavior).
Structurally, the statement referenced in the question stem is both a premise and a conclusion: it is
supported by the description of the dinosaur tracks, but it also provides the basis for the analogy
that supports the main conclusion of the argument. Because the argument structure in Method—AP questions tends to be more complex than in the typical argument, it is critical to identify each
argument part correctly and understand how they relate to each other before attacking the answer
choices.
Answer choice (A): This answer can be immediately eliminated, since this statement does help
establish the overall conclusion of the argument, and not simply the scientific importance of that
conclusion. In fact, it is not entirely clear what the scientific importance of the conclusion is.
Answer choice (B): Given that stimulus does not contain an argument/counterargument structure,
there is no evidence that one hypothesis is being rejected in favor of another hypothesis.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The statement referenced in the question
stem establishes the basis for the analogy between dinosaurs and modern predators, which supports
the overall conclusion of the argument.
Answer choice (D): There is no evidence of any possible objection to the argument’s conclusion
(such as an alternate cause for the pattern of dinosaur tracks). Had the author suggested that, for
instance, predatory dinosaurs do not normally follow large grazing dinosaurs unless they were
planning to attack them, this would fit the description in this answer choice.
Answer choice (E): We know this answer is incorrect because it claims the statement is the main
conclusion, when it was in fact a sub-conclusion.
Method of Reasoning—AP, CE. The correct answer choice is (C)
The argument is structured as follows:
- Premise: Paleontologists recently excavated two corresponding sets of dinosaur
tracks, one left by a large grazing dinosaur and the other by a smaller
predatory dinosaur.
Premise: The two sets of tracks make abrupt turns repeatedly in tandem.
Sub. Conclusion: The predator was following the grazing dinosaur and had matched its
stride.
Premise (analogy): Modern predatory mammals, such as lions, match the stride of prey
they are chasing immediately before they strike those prey.
Conclusion: The predatory dinosaur was chasing the grazing dinosaur and attacked
immediately afterwards.
this case is introduced by the conclusion indicator “this suggests that.” Because most test-takers
expect the conclusion to appear there, they will probably not ask you to identify it—that would be
a relatively simple task. Instead, the statement referenced in question stem (“the predatory dinosaur
was following the grazing dinosaur and had matched its stride”) is a premise used to support the
main conclusion, though its relationship to the rest of the argument merits further analysis.
Because the factual findings of studies and investigations usually function as evidence supporting the
conclusion, the fact that the two sets of dinosaur tracks make abrupt turns serves the role of a pure
premise. On the basis of that observation, the author concludes (“suggesting that” is a conclusion
indicator) that the predator was following the grazing dinosaur and had matched its stride. The next
sentence, however, clarifies the importance of this finding. Because modern predatory mammals also
match the stride of prey they are chasing immediately before they strike, the author then concludes
that the same situation occurred between the two dinosaurs in question (essentially, the author
assumes that the cause of the similar tracks is the similar predatory behavior).
Structurally, the statement referenced in the question stem is both a premise and a conclusion: it is
supported by the description of the dinosaur tracks, but it also provides the basis for the analogy
that supports the main conclusion of the argument. Because the argument structure in Method—AP questions tends to be more complex than in the typical argument, it is critical to identify each
argument part correctly and understand how they relate to each other before attacking the answer
choices.
Answer choice (A): This answer can be immediately eliminated, since this statement does help
establish the overall conclusion of the argument, and not simply the scientific importance of that
conclusion. In fact, it is not entirely clear what the scientific importance of the conclusion is.
Answer choice (B): Given that stimulus does not contain an argument/counterargument structure,
there is no evidence that one hypothesis is being rejected in favor of another hypothesis.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The statement referenced in the question
stem establishes the basis for the analogy between dinosaurs and modern predators, which supports
the overall conclusion of the argument.
Answer choice (D): There is no evidence of any possible objection to the argument’s conclusion
(such as an alternate cause for the pattern of dinosaur tracks). Had the author suggested that, for
instance, predatory dinosaurs do not normally follow large grazing dinosaurs unless they were
planning to attack them, this would fit the description in this answer choice.
Answer choice (E): We know this answer is incorrect because it claims the statement is the main
conclusion, when it was in fact a sub-conclusion.