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Hi!

Could you please explain 4Q? I thought it was E cause there are studies supporting and against SSH.

Thanks!
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Explanation

4. Which one of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

Explanation

Para 1 presents the Status Signaling Hypothesis itself. Paragraphs 2-3 discuss and evaluate Rohwer’s study, which tested the SSH, while Paragraphs 4-5 discuss and evaluate the titmice study, which also tested the SSH.

(B) The SSH is an explanation of a natural phenomenon; it isn’t a natural phenomenon. Moreover, the rest of the passage is devoted to discussions of tests of this single hypothesis, not to different explanations of a natural phenomenon.

(C) The passage discusses tests of the SSH, not the underlying causes of the behavior it purports to explain.

(D) What scientific conundrum (i.e., problem)? And where’s the history of this conundrum?

(E) What opinions against the validity of the SSH are presented? And where are the experiments that support these opinions? Rohwer’s experiments, although they don’t support the SSH, weren’t necessarily intended to undermine this hypothesis.

Answer: A
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Lionbeater
Hi!

Could you please explain 4Q? I thought it was E cause there are studies supporting and against SSH.

Thanks!



Take another look at the exact wording of choice E, though: (emphasis mine)

Quote:
A scientific theory is outlined and opinions for and against its validity as well as experiments supporting each side are compared.

The red part just isn't there. The Rohwer study, described in the second and third paragraphs, seems to call the signaling hypothesis into question—but that study is NOT accompanied by an opinion against the hypothesis.
Ironically, according to the passage, Rohwer felt was that those data supported the hypothesis! The passage does not tender anybody's opinion against the hypothesis.


Another issue with choice E is its use of the word "theory", rather than just "hypothesis".

At issue here is only one very specific idea—i.e., exactly what "hypothesis" means.
The word "theory", on the other hand, is typically used to refer to an entire set of internally consistent hypotheses and principles used in an attempt to explain a whole body of scientific observations in a given area.
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