A marine conservation organization proposes installing artificial reefs along a coastal bay to boost local fish numbers. The organization reasons that because artificial reefs in neighboring bays quickly attracted large fish populations, introducing similar structures to this bay will guarantee an increase in the bay's total fish population.
Which of the following are unstated assumptions upon which the conservation organization's argument depends? Select all that apply.
- Environmental conditions in this bay are sufficiently favorable to allow artificial reefs to attract fish.Answer
- The artificial reefs will support net growth in the fish population rather than merely redistributing existing fish from other areas of the bay.Answer
- CArtificial reefs represent the most cost-effective marine restoration strategy available to conservation groups.
- DPrior to artificial reef installation, neighboring bays suffered severe declines in overall marine biodiversity.
- EThe installation of artificial reefs will completely eliminate water pollution throughout the bay.
Answer
The argument relies on the assumptions that environmental conditions in the target bay allow artificial reefs to function effectively and that the reefs foster overall population growth rather than mere fish aggregation.
The argument relies on two critical assumptions. First, it assumes that environmental conditions in this bay are similar enough to neighboring bays for the reefs to attract fish; if conditions in this bay actively prevent fish attraction, the conclusion collapses. Second, it assumes that the reefs will result in a net increase in fish numbers rather than simply concentrating existing fish from elsewhere in the bay.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Negation Test for Critical Reasoning Assumptions