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It is theoretically possible that bacteria developed on Mars early in 12 Jul 2025, 14:18
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So you are cooked if you don't know meteorite, or strains, or Martian.
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It is theoretically possible that bacteria developed on Mars early in 04 Aug 2026, 01:13
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KarishmaB In this question, I understand that we need to provide a conclusion to complete the passage (as indicated by the word "So" before the blank) but does the conclusion need to be "must be true" that logically follows from the previous statements, or can it be just a conclusion which is "supported" by the previous statements and need not be must be true?
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It is theoretically possible that bacteria developed on Mars early in 04 Aug 2026, 03:52
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kushallagg
KarishmaB In this question, I understand that we need to provide a conclusion to complete the passage (as indicated by the word "So" before the blank) but does the conclusion need to be "must be true" that logically follows from the previous statements, or can it be just a conclusion which is "supported" by the previous statements and need not be must be true?
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It should be best supported by the argument - what the argument seems to be naturally indicating through the premises. It doesn't need to be true beyond doubt. You have to look for what BEST completes the argument - only one option will make sense. The argument needn't be a fool proof valid argument. There could be some gaps in logic but it must be obvious that this is what the author was leading to.
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It is theoretically possible that bacteria developed on Mars early in 04 Aug 2026, 10:53
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Hi kushallagg,

The standard is the stricter one: whatever fills the blank has to follow from the statements before it, not merely feel supported by them.

Here is the rule worth carrying forward: the connector in front of the blank tells you what job the blank is doing. "So" (and "therefore," "thus," "hence") makes the blank a conclusion, so it has to be something the premises let you assert. Contrast that with a blank sitting after "because" or "since" - there the blank is a premise, and it only has to support a conclusion that is already written for you.

Now the part I think is really driving your question - and driving the "All is too extreme!" objections earlier in this thread. You run the must-follow test on the words exactly as written, not on how strong the sentence sounds.

Look at (D): "All bacteria now on Earth could have arisen from transported Martian bacteria." That is a claim about what is possible, not about what happened. And the premises do guarantee that possibility:

- Strains from different planets would differ substantially in protein structure.
- No two Earth strains differ that much, so every Earth strain is consistent with one planetary origin.
- Sentence 1 puts Mars on the table as a candidate origin.

Therefore "all Earth bacteria could be Martian-descended" must be true. The word "All" is not overreach here; it sits inside a "could have."

Turn one knob

If (D) read "All bacteria now on Earth did arise from Martian bacteria" - would it still follow? No. The premises leave open the possibility that every Earth strain arose right here on Earth.

Same "All," different verb - and only one of the two is guaranteed. That is the test.

Answer: D

kushallagg
KarishmaB In this question, I understand that we need to provide a conclusion to complete the passage (as indicated by the word "So" before the blank) but does the conclusion need to be "must be true" that logically follows from the previous statements, or can it be just a conclusion which is "supported" by the previous statements and need not be must be true?
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