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09 Jun 2026, 08:27
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Difficulty:
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68% (01:53) correct
32%
(02:09)
wrong
based on 208
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A geologist recently claimed to have discovered in clay a previously unknown form of life: "nanobes," one-tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria. However, it is unlikely that nanobes truly are living things. They are probably inanimate artifacts of the clay's microscopic structure, because a nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism, a prerequisite for life.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
09 Jun 2026, 15:45
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A geologist recently claimed to have discovered in clay a previously unknown form of life: "nanobes," one-tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria. However, it is unlikely that nanobes truly are living things. They are probably inanimate artifacts of the clay's microscopic structure, because a nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism, a prerequisite for life.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
The argument says nanobes are probably not alive because each nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism. The key weakness would be evidence that a tiny living thing does not need to reproduce by itself as an isolated individual.
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
This does not weaken the argument. The issue is whether nanobes can reproduce at all, not whether bacteria reproduce sexually.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
This is correct. If living things can reproduce after combining into a larger structure, then an individual nanobe’s small size does not prove that it cannot be part of a reproductive process. This directly weakens the claim that nanobes are too small to be alive.
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
This is weak. It refers to disputed claims about possible fossils, not to established living organisms or a confirmed reproductive mechanism.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
This does not directly weaken the argument. Better microscopes might reveal more detail, but the option does not show that nanobes can reproduce.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
This is irrelevant. The issue is whether something as small as a nanobe can satisfy a prerequisite for life.
Answer: (B)
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
The argument says nanobes are probably not alive because each nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism. The key weakness would be evidence that a tiny living thing does not need to reproduce by itself as an isolated individual.
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
This does not weaken the argument. The issue is whether nanobes can reproduce at all, not whether bacteria reproduce sexually.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
This is correct. If living things can reproduce after combining into a larger structure, then an individual nanobe’s small size does not prove that it cannot be part of a reproductive process. This directly weakens the claim that nanobes are too small to be alive.
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
This is weak. It refers to disputed claims about possible fossils, not to established living organisms or a confirmed reproductive mechanism.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
This does not directly weaken the argument. Better microscopes might reveal more detail, but the option does not show that nanobes can reproduce.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
This is irrelevant. The issue is whether something as small as a nanobe can satisfy a prerequisite for life.
Answer: (B)
13 Jun 2026, 05:13
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Premises
1. A geologist claims to have discovered a previously unknown form of life called nanobes.
2. Nanobes are one-tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria.
3. A reproductive mechanism is a prerequisite for life.
4. A nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism.
Conclusion:
It is unlikely that nanobes are truly living things.
They are probably inanimate artifacts of the clay's microscopic structure.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
Wrong: This does not weaken the argument because the issue is whether nanobes can reproduce at all, not whether bacteria reproduce sexually.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
Correct: This weakens the argument because it suggests that an individual organism does not necessarily need to contain a complete reproductive mechanism by itself. Reproduction may occur through a larger, cooperative structure formed by many small organisms
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
Wrong: this one is saying “Other similar things (possibly fossilized) have the same size.”
But this does NOT say:
• that those things are alive
• that nanobes can reproduce
• that size does not prevent life
And even if “similar structures on Mars” did exist, they could also be non-living.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
Wrong: Better microscopes may reveal additional details, but this does not establish that nanobes can reproduce.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
Wrong: This is irrelevant because the question is whether a nanobe is capable of meeting a necessary condition for life.
1. A geologist claims to have discovered a previously unknown form of life called nanobes.
2. Nanobes are one-tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria.
3. A reproductive mechanism is a prerequisite for life.
4. A nanobe is too small to contain a reproductive mechanism.
Conclusion:
It is unlikely that nanobes are truly living things.
They are probably inanimate artifacts of the clay's microscopic structure.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) No known form of bacteria is complicated enough in structure to engage in a sexual type of reproduction.
Wrong: This does not weaken the argument because the issue is whether nanobes can reproduce at all, not whether bacteria reproduce sexually.
(B) Single-celled creatures can combine to form a multicelled structure and then reproduce before they disband into separate single cells again.
Correct: This weakens the argument because it suggests that an individual organism does not necessarily need to contain a complete reproductive mechanism by itself. Reproduction may occur through a larger, cooperative structure formed by many small organisms
(C) The material phenomena that some scientists claim are the fossilized remains of bacteria in meteorites from Mars are approximately the same size as nanobes.
Wrong: this one is saying “Other similar things (possibly fossilized) have the same size.”
But this does NOT say:
• that those things are alive
• that nanobes can reproduce
• that size does not prevent life
And even if “similar structures on Mars” did exist, they could also be non-living.
(D) Previous definitions of life were based on research done with inferior microscopes no longer in use.
Wrong: Better microscopes may reveal additional details, but this does not establish that nanobes can reproduce.
(E) Animals such as cold-blooded lizards can be physiologically simpler, though still larger, than other animals.
Wrong: This is irrelevant because the question is whether a nanobe is capable of meeting a necessary condition for life.
