Bunuel
Janet: The wild auroch was a species of large wild cattle whose last known herd went extinct in Eastern Europe in the first half of the 1600s. As the records of the period show that their extinction occurred during a period of stagnation in local population growth, it is unlikely that they were hunted to extinction or died due to habitat displacement. Something else must have led to the auroch’s extinction, and the best candidate is rinderpest – a disease inadvertently introduced into the auroch’s ecosystem through the import of domesticated cattle from Asia.
Junko: That argument is unlikely to convince scholars on its own. Can you cite any other evidence in its favor?
Select
Janet for the statement that, if true, best strengthens Janet’s assertion, and select
Junko for the statement that, if true, best strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s assertions. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Experts' Global Explanation:
A.
Janet’s argument is that the auroch went extinct in Eastern Europe during a time when the human population of the region had stagnated, so
the cause of the extinction was likely rinderpest – a disease inadvertently introduced into the auroch’s ecosystem through
the import of domesticated cattle from Asia – rather than hunting or habitat loss. If the given statement were true, the number of cattle imported from Asia to Eastern Europe would likely have fallen,
decreasing the likelihood of rinderpest transmission, meaning the statement
weakens Janet’s argument.Thus, the relative strength of trade between Asia and Eastern Europe at the time of the auroch’s extinction
is not information that strengthens Janet’s argument.Thus, the relative strength of trade between Asia and Eastern Europe at the time of the auroch’s extinction
is information that strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s argument.B.
Janet’s argument is that the auroch went extinct in Eastern Europe during a time when the human population of the region had stagnated, so
the cause of the extinction was likely rinderpest – a disease inadvertently introduced into the auroch’s ecosystem through
the import of domesticated cattle from Asia – rather than hunting or habitat loss. According to Janet’s argument, the auroch went extinct in the first half of the 1600s; if domesticated cattle were not imported to Eastern Europe until the late 1600s,
these cattle could not have transmitted rinderpest to the auroch meaning the statement
completely undermines Janet’s conclusion.
Thus, the fact that Asian domesticated cattle were first imported to Eastern Europe in the late 1600s
is not information that strengthens Janet’s argument.
Thus, the fact that Asian domesticated cattle were first imported to Eastern Europe in the late 1600s is information that
greatly strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s argument.Hence, B is the best answer choice for the column “Junko”.C.
Janet’s argument
makes no mention of other extinctions that took place at the same time as the auroch’s, so
other species of cattle going extinct is irrelevant to the argument.
Thus, the fact that half a dozen other species of cattle went extinct alongside the auroch
is not information that strengthens Janet’s argument.Thus, the fact that half a dozen other species of cattle went extinct alongside the auroch
is not information that strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s argument.D.
Janet’s argument is that the auroch went extinct in Eastern Europe during a time when the human population of the region had stagnated, so the cause of the extinction was likely
rinderpest rather than hunting or habitat loss. If records show that aurochs were difficult to hunt, then
Janet’s claim that hunting was not one of the causes of the extinction is bolstered.
Thus, the fact that aurochs were difficult to hunt
is information that strengthens Janet’s argument.Thus, the fact that aurochs were difficult to hunt
is information that strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s argument.Hence, D is the correct answer choice for the column “Janet”.E.
Janet’s argument
makes no mention of other extinctions that took place at the same time as the auroch’s, so
other species of wild animals going extinct is irrelevant to the argument.Thus, the fact that wild animals larger than the aurochs also went extinct during the 1600s
is not information that strengthens Janet’s argument.Thus, the fact that wild animals larger than the aurochs also went extinct during the 1600s
is not information that strengthens Junko’s disbelief regarding Janet’s argument.__________________________________
Hence, D is the correct answer choice for the column “Janet”, and B is the best answer choice for the column “Junko”.Interesting discussion: A student once wrote to us, asking how to tell whether A or B is the best answer choice for the “Junko” column, as both weaken Janet’s argument. Can you see what the student missed? A states that trade between Asia was
weaker than it had been, making it
less likely, that a disease from Asia could have been transmitted to Eastern Europe. Whereas, B states that the Asian cattle, and thus the rinderpest,
did not reach Eastern Europe, until the auroch had gone extinct, making it impossible for rinderpest to have caused the extinction.