- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8950
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:00 am
#64128
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (B)
Here we learn about eight craters that might have been caused by meteorites, or may have been
caused by volcanic events. Some of the craters contain rocks that could have been the result of
crashing meteorites, but these same craters also could have resulted from volcanic events. The
craters are lined up so perfectly that it is unlikely that some were caused by volcanoes and others by
meteorites (the perfect alignment of the craters was not likely the product of coincidence). Further,
the craters are different ages. Since they were not all created at the same time, the author concludes,
the craters were probably produced by volcanic activity, as opposed to several meteors hitting the
earth at different times to produce a perfect line of craters.
The question which follows requires us to find the answer choice which most strengthens the
author’s argument. This means that the right answer can specifically strengthen the conclusion that
volcanoes were responsible for creating the craters, or weaken the argument that meteorites were
their source.
Answer choice (A): The craters described in the stimulus are all different ages, and they create a
much longer line of craters, which are both reasons that the author is convinced they were the result
of volcanic activity. The craters mentioned in this answer choice make a shorter line and are all the
same age, creating an entirely different scenario.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. In order to strengthen the author’s
argument, we can bolster the idea that volcanoes created the craters, or somehow refute the notion
that meteorites were the cause. This answer choice achieves the latter. If there is no known cause
in nature that might lead to eight different aged meteorite craters in perfect alignment, that makes
it less likely that meteorites were actually the cause. By ruling out one possible alternative cause,
this answer choice strengthens the argument that volcanic activity was the actual cause of the nicely
aligned craters.
Answer choice (C): A lack of outside evidence for either possible cause would not strengthen the
author’s argument, so this choice cannot be correct.
Answer choice (D): This choice provides some support to the argument that meteorites caused the
craters, so this choice could not strengthen the argument that volcanic activity was the cause.
Answer choice (E): The craters discussed in the stimulus were different ages, so they could not have
come from a single meteor shower, so the fact that no such formation has come from a single meteor
shower is irrelevant.
Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (B)
Here we learn about eight craters that might have been caused by meteorites, or may have been
caused by volcanic events. Some of the craters contain rocks that could have been the result of
crashing meteorites, but these same craters also could have resulted from volcanic events. The
craters are lined up so perfectly that it is unlikely that some were caused by volcanoes and others by
meteorites (the perfect alignment of the craters was not likely the product of coincidence). Further,
the craters are different ages. Since they were not all created at the same time, the author concludes,
the craters were probably produced by volcanic activity, as opposed to several meteors hitting the
earth at different times to produce a perfect line of craters.
The question which follows requires us to find the answer choice which most strengthens the
author’s argument. This means that the right answer can specifically strengthen the conclusion that
volcanoes were responsible for creating the craters, or weaken the argument that meteorites were
their source.
Answer choice (A): The craters described in the stimulus are all different ages, and they create a
much longer line of craters, which are both reasons that the author is convinced they were the result
of volcanic activity. The craters mentioned in this answer choice make a shorter line and are all the
same age, creating an entirely different scenario.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. In order to strengthen the author’s
argument, we can bolster the idea that volcanoes created the craters, or somehow refute the notion
that meteorites were the cause. This answer choice achieves the latter. If there is no known cause
in nature that might lead to eight different aged meteorite craters in perfect alignment, that makes
it less likely that meteorites were actually the cause. By ruling out one possible alternative cause,
this answer choice strengthens the argument that volcanic activity was the actual cause of the nicely
aligned craters.
Answer choice (C): A lack of outside evidence for either possible cause would not strengthen the
author’s argument, so this choice cannot be correct.
Answer choice (D): This choice provides some support to the argument that meteorites caused the
craters, so this choice could not strengthen the argument that volcanic activity was the cause.
Answer choice (E): The craters discussed in the stimulus were different ages, so they could not have
come from a single meteor shower, so the fact that no such formation has come from a single meteor
shower is irrelevant.