Recently discovered fossil evidence casts doubt on the evolutionary theory that dinosaurs are more closely related to reptiles than to other classes of animals. Fossils show that some dinosaurs had hollow bones—a feature found today only in warm-blooded creatures, such as birds, that have a high metabolic rate. Dinosaurs had well-developed senses of sight and hearing, which is not true of present-day cold-blooded creatures like reptiles. The highly arched mouth roof of some dinosaurs would have permitted them to breathe while eating, as fast-breathing animals, such as birds, need to do. Today, all fast-breathing animals are warm-blooded. Finally, fossils reveal that many dinosaurs had a pattern of growth typical of warm-blooded animals.
The argument in the passage proceeds by
(A) attempting to justify one position by demonstrating that an opposing position is based on erroneous information
(B) establishing a general principle that it then uses to draw a conclusion about a particular case
(C) dismissing a claim made about the present on the basis of historical evidence
(D) assuming that if all members of a category have a certain property then all things with that property belong to the category
(E) presenting evidence that a past phenomenon is more similar to one rather than the other of two present-day phenomena

will go with E

E) presenting evidence that a past phenomenon (dinosaurs) is more similar to one rather than the other of two present-day phenomena ( warm-blooded creatures and cold-blooded creatures)

Agree with the same reasoning.

I would go for E also, but is a Dinausaur really a Phenomenon? It is rather a being, an animal.

leaning towards D.

The author attempts to group dinosaurs with warm blooded animals like birds, based on certain common attributes, which puts birds in warm-blooded category.

Give me E!

- A, B and C out as explained above.
- Now for the final elimination!
D says: assuming that if all members of a category have a certain property then all things with that property belong to the category.

1.The author does not mention anywhere that ALL warm blooded creatures have hollow bones (only those with rapid metabolism rates do - aka birds).
2. The author does not mention anywhere that ALL warm blooded creatures can breathe while eating (only those that breathe rapidly do - aka birds).

Thus, the author is NOT stating that that ALL warm blooded creatures have rapid metabolism rates and breathe while eating. The only category that has both of the above properties is birds. Is the author saying that dinosaurs are birds? NO