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Astronomer: Earth was bombarded repeatedly by comets and asteroids
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25 Feb 2021, 09:40
25 Feb 2021, 09:40
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Astronomer: Earth was bombarded repeatedly by comets and asteroids early in its history. This bombardment probably sterilized the surface and prevented life from originating during this early period in Earth's geological history. Meanwhile, Mars escaped severe bombardment, and so there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth. Because many meteorites originating from Mars have landed on Earth, life on Earth may have started when living microbes were carried here from Mars on a meteorite.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the astronomer's argument by the statement that there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth?
(A) It is a claim for which no justification is provided but that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the astronomer's argument by the statement that there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth?
(A) It is a claim for which no justification is provided but that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion.
Re: Astronomer: Earth was bombarded repeatedly by comets and asteroids
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26 Feb 2021, 00:44
26 Feb 2021, 00:44
2
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We are looking at this statement:
"...there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth."
(A) It is a claim for which no justification is provided but that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion. There is justification provided for this claim ("Mars was not bombarded by comets and asteroids while earth was"). Eliminate.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion. Same error as in (A). Eliminate.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion. Correct answer. Justification is provided. The main conclusion is: "...life on Earth may have started when living microbes were carried here from Mars on a meteorite." The statement in the question is required to establish this conclusion. If life did not evolve on Mars before Earth, life on Earth could not have come from Mars on a meteorite.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion. The statement in the question does not "establish the truth" but only provides for the possibility of the conclusion. It is possible for Mars to have life before Earth and still life on Earth may have evolved by other means than from Mars. Eliminate.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion. The statement is definitely required to establish the conclusion as seen in (C). Eliminate.
Hope this helps.
"...there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth."
(A) It is a claim for which no justification is provided but that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion. There is justification provided for this claim ("Mars was not bombarded by comets and asteroids while earth was"). Eliminate.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion. Same error as in (A). Eliminate.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion. Correct answer. Justification is provided. The main conclusion is: "...life on Earth may have started when living microbes were carried here from Mars on a meteorite." The statement in the question is required to establish this conclusion. If life did not evolve on Mars before Earth, life on Earth could not have come from Mars on a meteorite.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion. The statement in the question does not "establish the truth" but only provides for the possibility of the conclusion. It is possible for Mars to have life before Earth and still life on Earth may have evolved by other means than from Mars. Eliminate.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion. The statement is definitely required to establish the conclusion as seen in (C). Eliminate.
Hope this helps.
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Re: Astronomer: Earth was bombarded repeatedly by comets and asteroids
[#permalink]
14 Mar 2021, 01:50
14 Mar 2021, 01:50
(A) It is a claim for which no justification is provided but that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
The above two choices are easy eliminations since the argument does give some justification. The justification is that Mars did not get as severely bombarded as Earth did and hence the surface would not have been sterilised, allowing microbes to grow.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
Better to look at C and D together. The only difference in these two choices is the extent of justification provided. Clearly, the fact that asteroids did not severely bombard is only part of the justification for microbes to exist. Climate, etc are also factors for which justification has not been given. Hence, C looks a better choice. Eliminate D.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion. -- First part of the statement is correct, but this claim does ensure that the main conclusion (mars brought microbial life to earth) survives. Eliminate E.
(B) It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
The above two choices are easy eliminations since the argument does give some justification. The justification is that Mars did not get as severely bombarded as Earth did and hence the surface would not have been sterilised, allowing microbes to grow.
(C) It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.
(D) It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion.
Better to look at C and D together. The only difference in these two choices is the extent of justification provided. Clearly, the fact that asteroids did not severely bombard is only part of the justification for microbes to exist. Climate, etc are also factors for which justification has not been given. Hence, C looks a better choice. Eliminate D.
(E) It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion. -- First part of the statement is correct, but this claim does ensure that the main conclusion (mars brought microbial life to earth) survives. Eliminate E.
