Below are four distinct logical arguments (Left) and four highly abstract premises (Right). Match each argument to the single premise that provides the most robust logical strengthening by identifying and patching a critical gap in the argument's reasoning.
- Historian: A newly unearthed -century manuscript features text written in an iron-gall ink whose unique spectroscopic signature perfectly matches the ink synthesized exclusively at the St. Jude monastery. Consequently, we can definitively conclude that this manuscript was authored by monks residing at St. Jude.The distinct chemical materials required to produce the substance in question were strictly guarded and never exported, gifted, or traded beyond the immediate confines of the location where they were synthesized.
- Medical Researcher: An observational study spanning ten years demonstrates that older adults who routinely engage in solving cryptic crosswords exhibit a measurably slower rate of age-related cognitive decline compared to those who abstain from such puzzles. This confirms that solving cryptic crosswords actively preserves cognitive function.Individuals in the demographic studied are not more likely to adopt the habit in question simply because they possess an inherent, pre-existing physiological resistance to the condition being measured.
- Economist: Following the government's introduction of a targeted tax subsidy for small enterprises investing in renewable energy infrastructure, the aggregate national expenditure on renewable technologies by all businesses surged by . The subsidy clearly succeeded in motivating small enterprises to adopt green technology.Entities that did not qualify for the new fiscal policy, despite historically dominating total market volume, experienced no growth in their relevant sector expenditures during the observed period.
- Ecologist: The native red squirrel population in the highland pine forest has plummeted since the invasive grey squirrel was introduced. Because grey squirrels forage more rapidly and consume the exact same seeds, the red squirrel's decline is undoubtedly attributable to starvation caused by this fierce dietary competition.The recently established animal population did not introduce any novel transmissible pathogens that are lethal to the pre-existing indigenous population.
Answer
The correct pairings match the Historian to the premise regarding unexported materials, the Medical Researcher to the premise ruling out baseline physiological resistance, the Economist to the premise noting no growth in ineligible segments, and the Ecologist to the premise ruling out novel pathogens.
Each correct pairing provides an abstract premise that explicitly patches a specific logical gap in the corresponding argument. The Historian's gap regarding ink distribution is closed by ruling out exports. The Medical Researcher's reverse-causality gap is closed by confirming the habit isn't chosen due to pre-existing health. The Economist's whole-to-part gap is closed by showing that non-subsidized segments did not contribute to the aggregate growth. The Ecologist's alternative-cause gap is closed by eliminating disease as a factor.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Strengthening causal and statistical arguments by systematically ruling out alternative explanations, reverse causality, and confounding variables.
Estimated Time:3m 0s