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555-605 Level|   Evaluate Argument|         
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nverma
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 19 Apr 2010, 11:33
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

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25% (medium)

Question Stats:

79% (01:43) correct 21% (01:52) wrong based on 332 sessions

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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara, reptiles that are the sole surviving members of the sphenodontidans. Sphenodontidans were plentiful throughout the world during the age of the dinosaurs. But the survival of sphenodontidans near New Zealand, and their total disappearance elsewhere, is no mystery. New Zealand and nearby islands have no native land mammals. Land mammals, plentiful elsewhere, undoubtedly became major predators of sphenodontidans and their eggs, leading to their extinction.

Dr. Santos: In fact, the tuatara thrive only on a few islands near New Zealand. On all those where land mammals, such as rats, dogs, or cats, have been introduced in recent years, the tuatara are now extinct or nearly so.

Which one of the following most accurately characterizes Dr. Santos’ response to the hypothesis advanced by Dr. Libokov?


(A) It identifies a flaw in Dr. Libokov’s reasoning.

(B) It restates Dr. Libokov’s major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it.

(C) It contradicts one of Dr. Libokov’s assertions.

(D) It offers a hypothesis that is incompatible with Dr. Libokov’s position.

(E) It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov’s hypothesis.
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E
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 19 Apr 2010, 12:07
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Let me try. Neither the second contradicts or criticize or making any negative comments about the first.
Hence eliminate A,C,D. B also out as no restating
Hence E
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 19 Apr 2010, 13:36
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definitely E. "In fact" kinda gives it away since it is usually used in agreement or "in addition"
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 19 Apr 2010, 21:56
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara, reptiles that are the sole surviving members of the sphenodontidans. Sphenodontidans were plentiful throughout the world during the age of the dinosaurs. But the survival of sphenodontidans near New Zealand, and their total disappearance elsewhere, is no mystery. New Zealand and nearby islands have no native land mammals. Land mammals, plentiful elsewhere, undoubtedly became major predators of sphenodontidans and their eggs, leading to their extinction.
Dr. Santos: In fact, the tuatara thrive only on a few islands near New Zealand. On all those where land mammals, such as rats, dogs, or cats, have been introduced in recent years, the tuatara are now extinct or nearly so.
Which one of the following most accurately characterizes Dr. Santos’ response to the hypothesis advanced by Dr. Libokov?
(A) It identifies a flaw in Dr. Libokov’s reasoning.
(B) It restates Dr. Libokov’s major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it.
(C) It contradicts one of Dr. Libokov’s assertions.
(D) It offers a hypothesis that is incompatible with Dr. Libokov’s position.
(E) It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov’s hypothesis.

Santos response does not identifies any flaw in Libokov’s reasoning or any other thing as mentioned in other options, instead Santos response giving more evidence to support the Libokov’s reasoning. Santos whole response is directed towards support of Libokov’s reasoning .. IMO E

what is the OA ?
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 25 Jun 2010, 09:50
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(A) It identifies a flaw in Dr. Libokov’s reasoning.
-- Definitely doesn't identify a flaw. Hence not a correct answer choice.

(B) It restates Dr. Libokov’s major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it.
-- It though restates Dr. Lobokov's hypothesis, it provides evidences to support what Dr. Libokov's has said. Hence cannot be correct answer choice.

(C) It contradicts one of Dr. Libokov’s assertions.
-- It is not at all contradicting with Dr. Libokov's assertions. Hence cannot be correct answer choice.

(D) It offers a hypothesis that is incompatible with Dr. Libokov’s position.
-- Both the hypothesis are stating same thing hence compatible to each other. Hence D cannot be a correct answer choice.

(E) It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov’s hypothesis.
-- This is correct answer choice. Since Dr. Santos is providing additional evidences of island where the land mammals exist, the reptiles have disappeared.

Please provide with OA. Thank You.

Thanks,
Akhil M.Parekh
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 25 Jun 2010, 10:27
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I would go with E as well since the statement strengthens the original hypothesis by providing information of experimental evidence (i.e. introduction of the mammalian species like rats etc lead to near extinction)

What's the OA?
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 29 Jun 2010, 01:19
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Hi,

let's consider the two choices under discussion. Let's start with choice B. It reads:
Quote:
It restates Dr. Libokov’s major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it

What is Dr. Libokov's major hypothesis, and where does it appear in his remarks?

Dr. Libokov's major hypothesis is his last sentence:
Quote:
Land mammals, plentiful elsewhere, undoubtedly became major predators of sphenodontidans and their eggs, leading to their extinction.

Does Dr. Santos simply RESTATE this hypothesis?

Well, given that "restate" means "state again", the answer is clearly "NO". (Thus, choice B is incorrect).

How, then, does Dr. Santos' response relate to Dr. Libokov's major hypothesis?

Santos' response supports Libokov's hypothesis; if we were to remove Santos' response, then Libokov's hypothesis would have less support (denial test).

Thus, Santos' response provides additional support for Libokov's major hypothesis, and choice E is correct.
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 27 Jan 2025, 08:32
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Bunuel KarishmaB pls help me how this was an evaluate question?
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Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara 27 Jan 2025, 22:44
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nverma
Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara, reptiles that are the sole surviving members of the sphenodontidans. Sphenodontidans were plentiful throughout the world during the age of the dinosaurs. But the survival of sphenodontidans near New Zealand, and their total disappearance elsewhere, is no mystery. New Zealand and nearby islands have no native land mammals. Land mammals, plentiful elsewhere, undoubtedly became major predators of sphenodontidans and their eggs, leading to their extinction.

Dr. Santos: In fact, the tuatara thrive only on a few islands near New Zealand. On all those where land mammals, such as rats, dogs, or cats, have been introduced in recent years, the tuatara are now extinct or nearly so.

Which one of the following most accurately characterizes Dr. Santos’ response to the hypothesis advanced by Dr. Libokov?


(A) It identifies a flaw in Dr. Libokov’s reasoning.

(B) It restates Dr. Libokov’s major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it.

(C) It contradicts one of Dr. Libokov’s assertions.

(D) It offers a hypothesis that is incompatible with Dr. Libokov’s position.

(E) It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov’s hypothesis.


This is a method of reasoning question.
Discussion on Method Questions: https://youtu.be/uA5aXAZI1Z8


Dr. Libokov:
Certain islands near New Zealand are home to T, sole surviving members of the S.
S were plentiful throughout the world during the age of the dinosaurs.
Now S survive only near New Zealand.
New Zealand and nearby islands have no native land mammals.
Hypothesis (Conclusion): Land mammals, plentiful elsewhere, became major predators of S and that is why S survive only near New Zealand.


Dr. Santos:
In fact, the T thrive only on a few islands near New Zealand.
On all those where land mammals, such as rats, dogs, or cats, have been introduced in recent years, the T are now extinct or nearly so.

Santos adds further evidence to Libokov's argument. Libokov insists that land mammals are responsible for extinction of S from everywhere else. Santos says that yes, even in New Zealand, on those islands where land mammals were introduced, T disappeared. Hence Santos supports Libokov's hypothesis with additional evidence.

(E) It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov’s hypothesis.

Answer (E)
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