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Marine biologists studying the decline of coral reefs around the Tolman Islands have blamed the recent rise in local water temperatures. However, a new study shows that reefs surrounding the neighboring Banton Islands, which have experienced the exact same rise in water temperatures, are thriving and show no signs of decline. Therefore, it is clear that rising water temperatures are not the primary cause of the coral decline around the Tolman Islands.

Statement: The assertion that the coral species dominating the Banton Islands reefs possess a unique genetic adaptation making them highly resilient to temperature fluctuations—an adaptation absent in the coral species found around the Tolman Islands—actively weakens the argument above.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. The introduced assertion actively weakens the argument by destroying the validity of the comparison between the two island reef systems.
The statement is true. The original argument relies on a direct comparison between the Tolman and Banton reefs to conclude that water temperature is not the culprit for coral decline. The new assertion introduces a crucial biological difference, showing that Banton corals can survive temperature spikes that Tolman corals cannot. This completely severs the logical link between the premise (Banton's survival) and the conclusion (temperature is harmless to Tolman), thereby severely weakening the argument.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core argument's premises and conclusion.
Premise: Banton Islands experienced the same temperature rise as Tolman Islands but their reefs are thriving. Conclusion: Rising temperatures are not the primary cause of the Tolman Islands' coral decline.
Deconstructing the stimulus is necessary to evaluate the logical relationship between the evidence and the conclusion.
2
Determine the method of reasoning used in the argument.
The author uses an analogy or comparison, assuming that because the two island groups share one trait (rising temperatures), the outcome should be identical unless temperature is not the true causal factor.
Identifying the assumption (that the two reefs are otherwise highly comparable) highlights the argument's central vulnerability.
3
Evaluate the impact of the new assertion on the argument's central assumption.
The assertion introduces a critical biological difference: Banton corals have a unique genetic resistance to temperature fluctuations that Tolman corals lack.
This step determines whether the new information exposes a flaw in the argument's comparative reasoning.
4
Conclude whether the factual assertion weakens the argument.
Since the Banton corals are biologically equipped to survive the temperature rise while Tolman corals are not, the initial comparison is entirely invalid. This undermines the conclusion.
A factual assertion that destroys the foundational assumption of an argument by analogy successfully weakens the overall conclusion.

Key Concept

Evaluating comparative arguments by identifying relevant differences that invalidate an analogy.
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