abhimahna wrote:
A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given animal population for long, since there is enough genetic variation in populations that some members will lack the trait. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully for the available resources. Hence these members of the population survive and reproduce at a higher rate, crowding out those with the maladaptive trait.
The proposition that those lacking a maladaptive trait will compete more successfully for the available resources figures in the argument in which one of the following ways?
(A) It expresses a view that the argument as a whole is designed to discredit.
(B) It is the argument's main conclusion.
(C) It is a premise of the argument.
(D) It presents evidence that the argument attempts to undermine.
(E) It is an intermediate conclusion of the argument.
1. There is nothing to undermine here ---> A, D are out.
2. It can not be the main conclusion.
The main conclusion: Hence these members of the population survive and reproduce at a higher rate, crowding out those with the maladaptive trait.
Ok, even it is: A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given animal population for long
Anyway B is out.
3. In my opinion intermediate conclusion - it is something independent from the main conclusion.
But here the boldpart gives us an information that allows us to make a conclusion: Hence these members of the population survive and reproduce at a higher rate, crowding out those with the maladaptive trait
Hence it is the premise, option C