#5 - To the Editor: In 1960, an astronomer proposed a

[Administrator]

Please post your questions below!

[Lawyered]

Why is the answer C?!

I had A because it would be a summary of the conclusion "the astronomer's model is wrong, and life as we know it exists only on the planet Earth." But, my answer was wrong.

Then I thought it would be E because it explains why extraterrestrial civilizations have not communicated with us.

However, the right answer was C! "Detecting planets outside our solar system requires more sophisticated instruments than are currently available." I am not sure how this answer is correct because of nothing in the stem addresses "instruments" it seems like new information and at least to me seemed like far-fetched details... not sure why it's right.

[AthenaDalton]

Hi Lawyered,

Thanks for your question!

The PowerScore staff has copies of all the tests, so you don't need to go to the trouble of re-typing the full question and answer choices.

I'll start by addressing your question about why answer choice (A) was incorrect. The argument in the stimulus is about finding "life as we know it." The stimulus uses this exact phrase multiple times, including in the conclusion -- "This indicates that the astronomer's model is wrong, and life as we know it exists only on the planet Earth." Answer choice (A) states that forms of life other than life as we know it exist on other planets. That makes it an incorrect answer choice. I know this may seem like an overly-fine distinction, but it's important to note the exact word choices used in an argument to be certain that the stimulus and the answer choices are talking about the same thing. Here, there's an important difference between "life as we know it" on Earth (perhaps mammals, trees, water) and "forms of life other than life as we know it" (sentient bacteria? frozen microbes? etc).

Answer choice (C) is correct because it offers a reason for why astronomers might have searched for planets with life as we know if outside of our solar system and failed to find it -- the reason being that we don't have instruments strong enough to detect life millions of light years away! For example, there might be "life as we know it" in the next solar system over, but if we don't have strong enough telescopes to observe that life, this would simultaneously explain (1) why we haven't found such life yet and (2) why the astronomer's model is actually correct.

It's ok that answer choice (C) adds new information, since the prompt asks us which of the following facts, if accepted by the speaker, would make him reconsider his position. This implies that a new fact will be thrown in.

Answer choice (E) is incorrect because it doesn't address the failure of astronomers on earth to find extraterrestrial life. The astronomer's model doesn't depend on extraterrestrials contacting Earth, it depends on scientists on our own planet finding aliens abroad. Even if answer choice (E) were true, it wouldn't relate to the argument about the 1960 astronomical model being correct or incorrect.

I hope this helps clear things up. Good luck studying!

Athena Dalton

[andriana.caban]

Hi,

Although I understand why answer choice (A) is incorrect, I was under the impression that 'new information' presented in the answer choices was allowed. With this reasoning, I thought that 'life other than life as we know it" was plausible because new information can be presented in the answer choices (unlike MBT questions).

If there's other life out there, it provides an alternate possibility as to why Clay's conclusion is at fault. Thanks!

[Malila Robinson]

Hi andriana.caban,

You are correct, this is a Weaken question which is part of the Second Family (the hurt family) so you can bring in any outside info that will end up hurting what has been stated in the stimulus. The truth is assigned to the answer choices, rather than the stimulus.

However, in this case Answer A is irrelevant to the argument because the astronomer's argument and Clays' argument was only related to life as we know it. So while life that is unknown to us may indeed exist, it would not help or harm this specific argument.

Hope that helps!

-Malila

[erikariasss]

Hi, can I get a detailed answer on why the other answer choices are wrong i.e (B) and (D)

[Poonam Agrawal]

Hi Erika!

Thanks for your question!

Keep in mind that we are trying to get Clay to reconsider his conclusion - his original conclusion is that the astronomer's model is wrong. We want Clay to say, "Hmm, maybe the model is okay."

Answer choice (B) says that there are many stars not orbited by planets. Note that this goes against the astronomer's original assumption that many stars are orbited by planets. Therefore, this new information actually would solidify Clay's belief that the astronomer's model is wrong.

Answer choice (D) says the soundness of a model depends on its assumptions. This information wouldn't cause Clay to reconsider his conclusion. He could just say, "Well, the astronomer's assumptions were wrong, so the model itself is wrong," leading back to his original conclusion.

The correct answer here is answer choice (C). This answer choice tells us that maybe there is evidence of planets and life out in space, but we just don't have the tools to discover it. This would cause Clay to say, "Okay, so maybe the astronomer's model is correct but we can't know for sure until we have the tools to discover the other planets." Since this answer choice causes Clay to reconsider his conclusion, it is the correct answer.

Hope that helps!