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Difficulty: HardArgument by Elimination

Paleoclimatologist: The abrupt transition to a warmer global climate that marked the end of the Younger Dryas period was not triggered by an increase in solar irradiance. Ice core samples clearly reveal that solar output remained relatively stable during this transition. Furthermore, the warming cannot be attributed to a sudden release of methane from ocean floors, because the isotopic signature of atmospheric carbon from that era lacks the specific markers exclusively associated with marine methane. Therefore, since external solar forcing and marine emissions are invalidated by the geological record, the rapid warming must have been initiated by a reorganization of global ocean circulation patterns.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the paleoclimatologist's argument?

  1. Advancing a specific hypothesis by demonstrating the empirical inadequacy of alternative explanations for a historical phenomenon.Answer
  2. B
    Reaching its primary conclusion that solar irradiance did not increase by systematically ruling out alternative terrestrial causes like marine methane emissions.
  3. C
    Utilizing the background context of the Younger Dryas period's end as the principal premise to actively disprove the marine methane hypothesis.
  4. D
    Dismissing competing explanations by implicitly shifting the definition of climate transition from an atmospheric change to a marine reorganization.
  5. E
    Substantiating a proposed cause by appealing to an external scientific consensus regarding the dominance of ocean circulation in climate systems.

Answer

The option stating that the argument advances a specific hypothesis by demonstrating the empirical inadequacy of alternative explanations for a historical phenomenon.
The argument operates by the process of elimination. The author wants to prove that ocean circulation caused the climate transition. To do this, the author introduces two other plausible causes (solar irradiance and marine methane) and provides empirical evidence (ice cores and carbon isotopes) to prove they are inadequate explanations. This matches the description of advancing a hypothesis by demonstrating the inadequacy of alternative explanations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The rapid warming must have been initiated by a reorganization of global ocean circulation patterns.
This is the final claim that the rest of the text is designed to support.
2
Analyze how the premises support the conclusion.
The author presents evidence (ice cores, isotopic signatures) to prove that two other potential causes (solar irradiance, marine methane) did not happen.
Understanding the functional relationship between the evidence and the conclusion reveals the method of reasoning.
3
Synthesize the logical structure into an abstract description.
The argument establishes a single remaining explanation by systematically rejecting competing hypotheses using empirical data.
This synthesis must match one of the abstract descriptions in the answer choices.

Key Concept

Argument by Elimination
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Argument by Elimination

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