#9 - The only physical factor preventing a human journey to Mars has been weight. Carrying enough

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Assumption. The correct answer choice is (E).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice.

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[CJ12345:]

I was wondering why C is incorrect. The conclusion is "it is possible for PEOPLE to go to Mars in spacecraft that carries this device and then return." That means it is important that this device will not take up any living space of people. Thanks

[Robert Carroll]

CJ12345:,

The precise problem with answer choice (C) is that it says "any" of the living space. We can use the Assumption Negation Technique on this answer: the negation of answer choice (C) (roughly) is "The device would take up some of the crew's living space." That doesn't destroy the argument. There is no indication that taking up even some of the crew's living space would be enough to make the device unfeasible to use. We have no idea how "tight" living space is on a spacecraft - might there be some room to take on new equipment? Possibly. That possibility is what destroys answer choice (C).

All that is just another way of saying that answer choice (C) is too extreme. The device surely can't take up too much or a significant amount of living space, but there's no need to assume it won't take up any.

Robert Carroll