Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardBridging Gap (Supporter) Assumptions

Paleontologist: Confidently establishing the basal metabolic rate of any extinct dinosaur species requires researchers to analyze the isotopic composition of its fossilized tooth enamel. The recently excavated skeletal remains of the Tectodon, however, were unearthed exclusively from the remnants of highly acidic ancient peat bogs. Consequently, despite having complete skeletons, researchers will be unable to confidently establish the basal metabolic rate of the Tectodon.

The paleontologist's argument depends on assuming which one of the following?

  1. A
    Any fossilized dinosaur teeth that lack an analyzable isotopic composition were preserved in highly acidic ancient peat bogs.
  2. B
    The acidic nature of ancient peat bogs rapidly degrades the structural integrity of most fossilized dinosaur bones.
  3. C
    No fossilized biological material preserved in highly acidic ancient peat bogs can be successfully analyzed using modern paleontological methods.
  4. Fossilized tooth enamel recovered from highly acidic ancient peat bogs does not retain an analyzable isotopic composition.Answer
  5. E
    Dinosaur fossils excavated from environments that are not highly acidic typically possess tooth enamel with intact isotopic compositions.

Answer

The correct answer is the statement that fossilized tooth enamel recovered from highly acidic ancient peat bogs does not retain an analyzable isotopic composition.
The argument exhibits a clear logical gap: it jumps from the fact that the fossils were found in highly acidic peat bogs to the conclusion that researchers cannot analyze the isotopic composition of their tooth enamel. To make this leap, the paleontologist must assume that the acidic environment of the bogs somehow prevents or ruins this specific isotopic analysis. This option explicitly bridges that gap. Applying the Negation Test confirms this: if tooth enamel from highly acidic bogs DOES retain an analyzable isotopic composition, then the sole reason given for being unable to determine the Tectodon's metabolic rate vanishes, causing the argument's logic to collapse.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conclusion of the argument.
Researchers will be unable to confidently establish the basal metabolic rate of the Tectodon.
This is the final claim the paleontologist is trying to prove, signaled by the word 'Consequently'.
2
Identify the premises supporting this conclusion.
Premise 1: Establishing metabolic rate requires analyzing the isotopic composition of tooth enamel. Premise 2: Tectodon fossils were found exclusively in highly acidic ancient peat bogs.
These statements provide the factual foundation and constraints for the argument.
3
Locate the conceptual gap between the premises and the conclusion.
The premises introduce 'highly acidic ancient peat bogs', but the conclusion depends on the inability to 'analyze the isotopic composition of its fossilized tooth enamel'. The argument assumes these specific bogs prevent this specific analysis.
A valid supporter assumption must explicitly connect the new or rogue elements in the premises to those in the conclusion.
4
Apply the Negation Test to the potential correct option to verify it is logically necessary.
If fossils from highly acidic ancient peat bogs DO retain analyzable isotopic compositions, the paleontologist's conclusion that researchers will be 'unable' to establish the metabolic rate falls apart.
A necessary assumption is one that, if proven false, destroys the logical validity of the argument.

Key Concept

Bridging Conceptual Gaps (Supporter Assumptions) and the Negation Test
Rate this question

Topics

Bridging Gap (Supporter) Assumptions

More questions from this topic