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Question

Difficulty: Very hardIdentifying Premises and Evidence

Consider the following argument:

Oceanic acidification during the Permian-Triassic transition severely compromised calcifying marine organisms. However, fossil records reveal that populations of several non-calcifying organism species also experienced precipitous declines despite remaining unexposed to direct chemical dissolution. Researchers attribute these non-calcifying species declines to widespread collapses in primary marine productivity: because global phytoplankton populations collapsed, non-calcifying organisms lost their primary food supply. Consequently, direct chemical dissolution was not the sole driver of marine extinction during this boundary event.

True or False: In the argument above, the statement that 'global phytoplankton populations collapsed' functions as a premise supporting the main conclusion.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. The statement acts as an evidentiary premise that explains how non-calcifying organisms perished, thereby supporting the main conclusion that direct chemical dissolution was not the exclusive cause of extinction.
The statement 'global phytoplankton populations collapsed' acts as a essential factual premise. Introduced by the premise indicator 'because', it provides the empirical basis for the loss of food supply among non-calcifying species. This finding is necessary to prove that marine extinctions occurred through mechanisms other than direct chemical dissolution, thereby directly supporting the author's primary conclusion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The main conclusion is the final sentence: 'Consequently, direct chemical dissolution was not the sole driver of marine extinction during this boundary event.'
The signal word 'Consequently' signals the ultimate claim the author is trying to prove.
2
Analyze the structural function of the target statement.
The target statement ('global phytoplankton populations collapsed') is introduced by the causal indicator 'because'.
Causal indicators such as 'because' introduce premises offered to explain or prove another statement.
3
Evaluate how the target statement supports the main conclusion.
The collapse of phytoplankton explains why non-calcifying organisms declined without direct chemical exposure, demonstrating an alternative extinction mechanism.
Providing a verified alternative mechanism directly substantiates the claim that chemical dissolution was not the sole cause.

Key Concept

Identifying Premises and Evidence in Complex Arguments
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Identifying Premises and Evidence

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