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Question

Difficulty: HardStrengthen

The Vendean people, who inhabit a harsh, densely forested mountain region, have a language containing over fifty distinct words for different types of moss. In contrast, neighboring lowland groups have only three such words. A linguist argues that this linguistic disparity exists because the Vendeans' specific environment forced them to develop a highly specialized moss vocabulary for survival, as they utilize various mosses for crucial medicinal and dietary purposes.

Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the linguist's argument?

  1. A
    The lowland groups frequently trade with the Vendeans to obtain medicinal mosses, describing these plants with complex phrases rather than single words.
  2. B
    The mountain region inhabited by the Vendeans contains vastly more distinct species of moss than the territories occupied by the neighboring lowland groups.
  3. Indigenous groups living in comparable mountainous forest environments that do not utilize moss for food or medicine have only a few generic words for moss.Answer
  4. D
    Most indigenous groups that possess a vocabulary of over fifty distinct words for moss inhabit harsh, densely forested mountain regions.
  5. E
    The total number of words in the Vendean language is significantly smaller than the overall number of words in the languages of the lowland groups.

Answer

The statement showing that indigenous groups in similar environments who do not use moss lack the specialized vocabulary.
The argument asserts a causal relationship: the necessity of using moss for survival in a harsh environment caused the development of a highly specialized vocabulary. The correct answer strengthens this by providing a control group. By showing that other tribes in the exact same physical environment do not develop the vocabulary if they do not practically utilize the moss, it effectively eliminates the environment alone as an alternative cause and isolates the survival usage as the true driving factor.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion and the premises of the argument.
Conclusion: The harsh environment forced the Vendeans to develop a specialized moss vocabulary for survival (medicinal/dietary use). Premise: The Vendeans have over fifty words for moss, while lowland groups have only three.
Deconstructing the argument is necessary to pinpoint the exact causal relationship being claimed.
2
Identify the logical gap or vulnerability in the argument.
The argument assumes a specific causal mechanism: Survival usage in a harsh environment leads to specialized vocabulary. It fails to rule out alternative causes (like sheer biological diversity) and assumes the physical usage is the true catalyst rather than just the environment itself.
Strengthening a causal argument typically requires validating the causal link, ruling out alternate causes, or showing that when the cause is absent, the effect is absent.
3
Evaluate the options to find one that supports the causal mechanism.
The correct answer demonstrates that in similar environments where the proposed cause (using moss for survival) is absent, the effect (specialized vocabulary) is also absent.
This 'control group' comparison strongly validates the linguist's specific claim that the survival usage, rather than just the environmental presence of moss, drove the vocabulary development.

Key Concept

Strengthening Causal Arguments (Cause Without Effect Control)
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Strengthen

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