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Sajjad1994, thank you for your explanations, which are informative and helpful.

For question 6 how do you choose between a and d.
My reasoning for eliminating A is the following. "very little" evidence of increased intensity. "very little" means its still possible. Furthermore, it does not eliminate the fact that the rock from mars came from the same time period as the LHB, leaving the Mars rock unexplained

My reasoning for choosing D is the following. If indeed the rock was from the Moon not the Mars, then the only evidence stated in the passage of LHB on mars is eliminated.


If anybody can find the flaw of my process of thinking it would be greatly appreciated.
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Explanation

6. Which one of the following, if true, would lend the most support to the view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon?

Difficulty Level: 750

Explanation

The right answer choice may not definitively prove that the LHB was limited to the Earth-Moon system, but it will make that claim somewhat more likely to be true. The Mars rock found on Earth was the only evidence offered in support of the theory that the effects of the LHB extended beyond the Earth-Moon system. If exploration of Mars suggests that there was not an increase in the intensity of projectiles hitting that planet during the time period the LHB is believed to have occurred, then the finding of a Mars rock on Earth no longer suggests that the LHB must have affected Mars as well as the Earth-Moon system.

Each of the remaining answer choices is consistent with the LHB either being limited to the Earth-Moon system, or extending beyond the Earth-Moon system, and so they do not strengthen our argument.

Option (D) is incorrect because it does not support the view that the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) was limited to Earth and the Moon. In fact, it suggests the opposite. Let's analyze why:

Option (D) states: "Based on further testing, scientists conclude that the rock believed to have originated on Mars actually originated on the Moon."

If this were true, it would mean that the rock, previously thought to be from Mars and potentially evidence of a separate bombardment event on Mars concurrent with the LHB on the Moon, is actually from the Moon. This would imply that the LHB extended beyond the Moon and also affected Mars, thus contradicting the idea that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon.

The question asks for the option that would lend the most support to the view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. In contrast, option (D) suggests that the LHB extended to Mars as well, making it inconsistent with the desired viewpoint. Therefore, option (D) is incorrect in this context.

Answer: A

maxbank1
Sajjad1994, thank you for your explanations, which are informative and helpful.

For question 6 how do you choose between a and d.
My reasoning for eliminating A is the following. "very little" evidence of increased intensity. "very little" means its still possible. Furthermore, it does not eliminate the fact that the rock from mars came from the same time period as the LHB, leaving the Mars rock unexplained

My reasoning for choosing D is the following. If indeed the rock was from the Moon not the Mars, then the only evidence stated in the passage of LHB on mars is eliminated.


If anybody can find the flaw of my process of thinking it would be greatly appreciated.
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plz explain in ques 2 why not C ?
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plz explain in ques 2 why not C ?

Explanation

2. The author’s attitude toward arguments that might be based on the evidence of the rock mentioned in the passage as being from Mars (lines 44–46: Highlighted) can most accurately be described as

Difficulty Level: 700

Explanation

In paragraph 3, the author describes new evidence that suggests that the effects of the LHB went beyond the Earth-Moon system. The keyword “however” tells us that the author does not believe that this new evidence settles the debate that is central to this passage. The author would like to see many more rocks like the Mars rock described at the beginning of the paragraph.

(B) captures the author’s concern that much more evidence is needed to come to any definitive conclusions. A vertical scan of the verbs used in the other answer choices shows how those choices miss the mark: the author is not “ambivalent” about the evidence, as (A) says, nor is she “skeptical” as in (C). The paragraph provides the details that (D) proposes the author is still “curious” about, and (E)’s suggestion that the author completely “accepts” the arguments made based upon the Mars rock ignores the author’s reservations expressed in the last sentence of the paragraph. All of these answer choices are 180s.

Answer: B
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Explanation

6. Which one of the following, if true, would lend the most support to the view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon?

Difficulty Level: 750

Explanation

The right answer choice may not definitively prove that the LHB was limited to the Earth-Moon system, but it will make that claim somewhat more likely to be true. The Mars rock found on Earth was the only evidence offered in support of the theory that the effects of the LHB extended beyond the Earth-Moon system. If exploration of Mars suggests that there was not an increase in the intensity of projectiles hitting that planet during the time period the LHB is believed to have occurred, then the finding of a Mars rock on Earth no longer suggests that the LHB must have affected Mars as well as the Earth-Moon system.

Each of the remaining answer choices is consistent with the LHB either being limited to the Earth-Moon system, or extending beyond the Earth-Moon system, and so they do not strengthen our argument.

Option (D) is incorrect because it does not support the view that the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) was limited to Earth and the Moon. In fact, it suggests the opposite. Let's analyze why:

Option (D) states: "Based on further testing, scientists conclude that the rock believed to have originated on Mars actually originated on the Moon."

If this were true, it would mean that the rock, previously thought to be from Mars and potentially evidence of a separate bombardment event on Mars concurrent with the LHB on the Moon, is actually from the Moon. This would imply that the LHB extended beyond the Moon and also affected Mars, thus contradicting the idea that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon.

The question asks for the option that would lend the most support to the view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. In contrast, option (D) suggests that the LHB extended to Mars as well, making it inconsistent with the desired viewpoint. Therefore, option (D) is incorrect in this context.

Answer: A

maxbank1
Sajjad1994, thank you for your explanations, which are informative and helpful.

For question 6 how do you choose between a and d.
My reasoning for eliminating A is the following. "very little" evidence of increased intensity. "very little" means its still possible. Furthermore, it does not eliminate the fact that the rock from mars came from the same time period as the LHB, leaving the Mars rock unexplained

My reasoning for choosing D is the following. If indeed the rock was from the Moon not the Mars, then the only evidence stated in the passage of LHB on mars is eliminated.


If anybody can find the flaw of my process of thinking it would be greatly appreciated.

I am sorry but I am not convinced with this explanation for D. The passage tells us LHB could either be localized (to Earth-Moon area) or spread out (inner Solar System). The rock that we have found and thought to be from Mars lends support to the later hypothesis. Why? Because it suggests LHB is more spread out than just the Earth-Moon region. It is not evidence for another totally different bombardment. It is evidence for LHB.
So if that evidence turns out to be incorrect, then our hypothesis will be called into question. Hence, weakener.
What am I missing here?
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I am sorry but I am not convinced with this explanation for D. The passage tells us LHB could either be localized (to Earth-Moon area) or spread out (inner Solar System). The rock that we have found and thought to be from Mars lends support to the later hypothesis. Why? Because it suggests LHB is more spread out than just the Earth-Moon region. It is not evidence for another totally different bombardment. It is evidence for LHB.
So if that evidence turns out to be incorrect, then our hypothesis will be called into question. Hence, weakener.
What am I missing here?

Option (D) states that scientists conclude, based on further testing, that the rock believed to have originated on Mars actually originated on the Moon. If this were true, it would weaken the argument that the LHB extended throughout the inner solar system. However, the key issue here is that option (D) doesn't necessarily provide direct support for the hypothesis that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. It only presents a scenario where a piece of evidence (the rock believed to be from Mars) is found to be incorrect. This doesn't necessarily prove that the LHB was localized, as there could still be other evidence supporting the idea of a widespread bombardment.

On the other hand, option (A) directly addresses the issue of the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the relevant time period. If it is found that there was very little evidence for an increase in the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the period of the LHB, it suggests that the intense bombardment was not a widespread phenomenon affecting multiple planets in the inner solar system. This would lend more support to the idea that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon.

While both options (A) and (D) address evidence that could potentially weaken the hypothesis of a widespread LHB, option (A) provides more direct support for the specific view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon, making it a stronger choice according to the information provided in the passage.
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Saupayan
I am sorry but I am not convinced with this explanation for D. The passage tells us LHB could either be localized (to Earth-Moon area) or spread out (inner Solar System). The rock that we have found and thought to be from Mars lends support to the later hypothesis. Why? Because it suggests LHB is more spread out than just the Earth-Moon region. It is not evidence for another totally different bombardment. It is evidence for LHB.
So if that evidence turns out to be incorrect, then our hypothesis will be called into question. Hence, weakener.
What am I missing here?

Option (D) states that scientists conclude, based on further testing, that the rock believed to have originated on Mars actually originated on the Moon. If this were true, it would weaken the argument that the LHB extended throughout the inner solar system. However, the key issue here is that option (D) doesn't necessarily provide direct support for the hypothesis that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. It only presents a scenario where a piece of evidence (the rock believed to be from Mars) is found to be incorrect. This doesn't necessarily prove that the LHB was localized, as there could still be other evidence supporting the idea of a widespread bombardment.

On the other hand, option (A) directly addresses the issue of the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the relevant time period. If it is found that there was very little evidence for an increase in the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the period of the LHB, it suggests that the intense bombardment was not a widespread phenomenon affecting multiple planets in the inner solar system. This would lend more support to the idea that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon.

While both options (A) and (D) address evidence that could potentially weaken the hypothesis of a widespread LHB, option (A) provides more direct support for the specific view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon, making it a stronger choice according to the information provided in the passage.

I agree with what you said. However, extending your reasoning for D, option A doesn't necessarily provide direct support for the hypothesis that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. At best, it suggests Mars wasn't involved. What about Mercury and Venus? What if Mars was spared just because in that very short duration of LHB, it was just never in the right position and planets farther away were infact bombarded?
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maybe this will help
I agree that (D) is attractive. However, the discovery of an alternate explanation for the origin of the Mars rock would not serve to disprove other theories that are not restricted to the Earth-Moon system. Mars could still have been involved, even if this one particular rock actually originated in the Moon. By comparison (A) essentially disproves the notion that Mars was involved in the LHB, which better supports the theory that the LHB was limited to the Earth-Moon system.

source: powerscore lsat https://forum.powerscore.com/viewtopic. ... 0that%20(D)%20is%20attractive,limited%20to%20the%20Earth%2DMoon%20system.
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Sajjad1994
Saupayan
I am sorry but I am not convinced with this explanation for D. The passage tells us LHB could either be localized (to Earth-Moon area) or spread out (inner Solar System). The rock that we have found and thought to be from Mars lends support to the later hypothesis. Why? Because it suggests LHB is more spread out than just the Earth-Moon region. It is not evidence for another totally different bombardment. It is evidence for LHB.
So if that evidence turns out to be incorrect, then our hypothesis will be called into question. Hence, weakener.
What am I missing here?

Option (D) states that scientists conclude, based on further testing, that the rock believed to have originated on Mars actually originated on the Moon. If this were true, it would weaken the argument that the LHB extended throughout the inner solar system. However, the key issue here is that option (D) doesn't necessarily provide direct support for the hypothesis that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. It only presents a scenario where a piece of evidence (the rock believed to be from Mars) is found to be incorrect. This doesn't necessarily prove that the LHB was localized, as there could still be other evidence supporting the idea of a widespread bombardment.

On the other hand, option (A) directly addresses the issue of the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the relevant time period. If it is found that there was very little evidence for an increase in the intensity of projectiles striking Mars during the period of the LHB, it suggests that the intense bombardment was not a widespread phenomenon affecting multiple planets in the inner solar system. This would lend more support to the idea that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon.

While both options (A) and (D) address evidence that could potentially weaken the hypothesis of a widespread LHB, option (A) provides more direct support for the specific view that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon, making it a stronger choice according to the information provided in the passage.

I agree with what you said. However, extending your reasoning for D, option A doesn't necessarily provide direct support for the hypothesis that the LHB was limited to Earth and the Moon. At best, it suggests Mars wasn't involved. What about Mercury and Venus? What if Mars was spared just because in that very short duration of LHB, it was just never in the right position and planets farther away were infact bombarded?
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Hi Sajjad1994,
Could you please also post the explanation for question-4? I found it a bit tricky to infer from the passage so wanted to confirm my reasoning.
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Hi Sajjad1994,
Could you please also post the explanation for question-4? I found it a bit tricky to infer from the passage so wanted to confirm my reasoning.

4. The author implies that all theoretical approaches to the LHB would agree on which one of the following?

Explanation

When you are asked to identify a point of agreement (or point at issue) between different theories, first research and summarize the theories you are asked to compare.

What are the three theories? 1) The LHB was linked to the cataclysmic disintegration of a large body, such as an asteroid or comet, which spread debris throughout the inner solar system. 2) The LHB was a long-term process, not part of a cataclysmic event, affecting the inner solar system. 3) The LHB was a cataclysmic event, but only affected the Earth-Moon system. Now we can evaluate the answer choices, asking ourselves with respect to each answer choice whether the answer choice is consistent with each of the 3 theories.

Theories 1 and 3 suggest that the LHB was of relatively short duration, but theory Theory 2 suggests that what is called the LHB was the end of billions of years of declining bombardment. Eliminate
(A).

Theories 1 and 3 suggest that the LHB was the result of a cataclysmic disintegration of a large body such as an asteroid or comet. Theory 2 suggests that the LHB was not the result of any cataclysmic event. Eliminate (B).

Theories 1 and 3 describe LHB as “cataclysmic,” and Theory 2 describes LHB as “the period concluding billions of years of a continuous, declining heavy bombardment.” (C) is our good answer choice.

For the record, none of the theories suggests that there was life on Earth prior to or at the time of the LHB (D), and none of the theories attempts to quantify the amount of debris involved in the LHB. (E).

Answer: C
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Hi. I marked option D. Going through the explanations-

'It only presents a scenario where a piece of evidence (the rock believed to be from Mars) is found to be incorrect'. How is that not a good enough weakener?
In the passage it is mentioned that- 'This tiny piece of evidence suggests that at least two planetary systems in the inner solar system experienced bombardment at the same time'- If this was the entire basis of coming at this conclusion and if you weaken the premise, doesn't that automatically weaken the conclusion?
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