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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences bet Updated on: 28 Aug 2024, 00:00
Originally posted by Jivana on 11 Aug 2009, 19:49.
Last edited by Bunuel on 28 Aug 2024, 00:00, edited 4 times in total.
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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.­
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Premise: paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species

Counter premise: however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time

Conclusion: the classification is unjustified.

Now we have to find a link between the counter premise and the conclusion. This link will allow the conclusion to be properly drawn


(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.

This means that some species that lived in a given area are preserved as a fossil. This supports the paleontologists view

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.

same as A

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.

This restricts to three the number of species in a geographical area at the same time. Let's put both premises together to see if we can draw the conclusion

since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time and since no geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time, we can conclude that it is impossible to classify triceratops into sixteen species.

This sounds correct

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.


(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

This means that we should not distinguish between triceratops that came from the same are and triceratops that came from different areas. This supports the paleontologists view that we can use the differences in fossils to classify triceratops.
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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences bet Updated on: 07 Mar 2025, 00:05
Originally posted by KarishmaB on 08 Sep 2019, 22:13.
Last edited by KarishmaB on 07 Mar 2025, 00:05, edited 2 times in total.
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Jivana
Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.
Premises:
Paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species.
The specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Conclusion: This classification is unjustified.

The conclusion is drawn based on the observation that 11 of the species come from animals living in the same area at the same time. This seems to indicate that the classification is unjustified. It seems that 11 is too many species from the same area at the same time though the argument doesn't state it explicitly.

Which of the following will help conclusion be properly drawn i.e. which of the following will justify the conclusion? This is a sufficient assumption question.

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.

Doesn't help our conclusion. Doesn't say why our current classification is not justified.

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.

Again, doesn't tell us that our current classification is not justified.

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.

Correct. We found 11 species in the same area at the same time. But no area supports more than 3 at the same time. So our classification is not justified,

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.

Our species are quite similar. Many species are quite dissimilar. This doesn't mean our classification is wrong. It doesn't say that the animals belong to different species only if they are quite dissimilar.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

If anything, it helps to say that our classification is justified. Specimens of different species are quite distinctive.

Answer (C)
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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences bet 11 Aug 2009, 21:19
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Jivana
Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

Show Spoiler
Chose E, OA is C

The conclusion of the argument is "This classification is unjustified". Therefore, E is wrong because E weakens the conclusion.
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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.
Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?
(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

Would go with C..... although I read the question wrong before :)

Explanation:
CN = The classification is wrong as the specimens used to distinguish 11 species come from same area.

The only supporting option to this is C.. as it says clear that any area can support max of 3 similar species at the same time!
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C it is.

argument says...classification of species is not justified because 11 species came from animals that lived in same area at the same time.

option C says...no geographical area ever supports more than 3 similar species at the same time.

so option (C) will help in stating that conclusion is justified because at max there can be only 3 species from the same geographical area.
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Correct answer is C. A study is presented and the author finds flaw in the study. The flaw is that the study has used fossils from the same area to determine new species. Author is not convinced about it.

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
Some of the species may not be preserved but the others can be used to determine the species. We will take the fossils only. Concern is about finding species and not the finding of all the fossil
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
Exaggerated answer that is not supported/ implied from the argument
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
Correct answer. Let us negate this. "There is at least one geographical are that supports more than three similar species at the same time". If there exists such an area, then we can find 11 different species from the same area. Author says the complete opposite. The argument of the author will fail if the statement is true.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.
Out of scope
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.
This is the opposite of C and the reasoning used by the study. Author is not convinced with the statement and says that such a statement can't be true. Variations exist between species from different geographical regions.
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Bumping for review and further discussion*.
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Jivana
Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

Conclusion: The classification is unjustified.

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil. - This does not mean that there couldn't be 16 different species (or 11 for that matter) ; there could be more as well. So A goes out.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen. - This somehow neither justifies nor defies the conclusion.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time. - If there could only exist 3 species at max in a given area then 11 being found in a particular area is unjustified. Hence C is the answer.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation. - What species?
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas. - This rather defies the conclusion by proving that there are these different species that might have existed.

I choose
Show Spoiler
E
But it is not the OA.
I chose C. Explanations in red. Please let me know if I went wrong somewhere.­
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VeritasKarishma GMATNinja abhimahna AjiteshArun Skywalker18 EMPOWERgmatVerbal
I cant understand whats the reason for giving the first line in the argument ? whats the relation between number 16 and 11 and whats the relation between small difference , and similar species ?
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preetamsaha
VeritasKarishma GMATNinja abhimahna AjiteshArun Skywalker18 EMPOWERgmatVerbal
I cant understand whats the reason for giving the first line in the argument ? whats the relation between number 16 and 11 and whats the relation between small difference , and similar species ?

When are animals classified into different species? When they have enough differences between them. The argument tells us that triceratops have been classified into 16 different species based on small differences. The argument says that this classification may not be correct.

Include the correct option and see if you understand the conclusion:

Paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into 16 species.
The specimens used to distinguish 11 of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.
No geographical area ever supports more than 3 similar species at the same time.

Conclusion: So this classification is unjustified.

The argument tells you that paleontologists classified triceratops into 16 species.
It says that 11 of these species lived in the same area at the same time.

It concludes that the classification is wrong. Why?
If we know that atmost 3 species are supported by an area, then 11 coming from the same area would be wrong. So our conclusion will follow.
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VeritasKarishma so the number (3) used in option c just to support unjustified classification,correctly pointing out both premise (16) and counter premise (11) ? am i right ?
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preetamsaha
VeritasKarishma so the number (3) used in option c just to support unjustified classification,correctly pointing out both premise (16) and counter premise (11) ? am i right ?

I don't understand what you are trying to say here.

Context: Paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into 16 species.
Premise: The specimens used to distinguish 11 of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.
Missing sufficient premise: No geographical area ever supports more than 3 similar species at the same time.
Conclusion: So this classification is unjustified.
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VeritasKarishma
Jivana
Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

Paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species.
The specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Conclusion: This classification is unjustified.

The conclusion is drawn based on the observation that 11 of the species come from animals living in the same area at the same time. This seems to indicate that the classification is unjustified. It seems that 11 is too many species from the same area at the same time though the argument doesn't state it explicitly.

Which of the following will help conclusion be properly drawn i.e. which of the following will justify the conclusion?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.

Doesn't help our conclusion. Doesn't say why our current classification is not justified.

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.

Again, doesn't tell us that our current classification is not justified.

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.

Correct. We found 11 species in the same area at the same time. But no area supports more than 3 at the same time. So our classification is not justified,

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.

Our species are quite similar. Many species are quite dissimilar. This doesn't mean our classification is wrong. It doesn't say that the animals belong to different species only if they are quite dissimilar.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

If anything, it helps to say that our classification is justified. Specimens of different species are quite distinctive.

Answer (C)

Hi VeritasKarishma AndrewN

The correct option C, talks about "similar" species, whereas the conclusion is not based on similar species. Nowhere in the argument is it stated that species are similar.
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VeritasKarishma
Jivana
Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species. This classification is unjustified, however, since the specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Which of the following, if true, would enable the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.
(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.
(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.
(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.
(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

Paleontologists have used small differences between fossil specimens to classify triceratops into sixteen species.
The specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time.

Conclusion: This classification is unjustified.

The conclusion is drawn based on the observation that 11 of the species come from animals living in the same area at the same time. This seems to indicate that the classification is unjustified. It seems that 11 is too many species from the same area at the same time though the argument doesn't state it explicitly.

Which of the following will help conclusion be properly drawn i.e. which of the following will justify the conclusion?

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil.

Doesn't help our conclusion. Doesn't say why our current classification is not justified.

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen.

Again, doesn't tell us that our current classification is not justified.

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time.

Correct. We found 11 species in the same area at the same time. But no area supports more than 3 at the same time. So our classification is not justified,

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation.

Our species are quite similar. Many species are quite dissimilar. This doesn't mean our classification is wrong. It doesn't say that the animals belong to different species only if they are quite dissimilar.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas.

If anything, it helps to say that our classification is justified. Specimens of different species are quite distinctive.

Answer (C)

Hi VeritasKarishma AndrewN

The correct option C, talks about "similar" species, whereas the conclusion is not based on similar species. Nowhere in the argument is it stated that species are similar.

All 16 species belong to triceratops so we can say that they are similar. Option (C) could not have said, "No geographical area ever supports more than three species at the same time" because it could support 1000s of different species (of different animals). What they meant to say is that no more than 3 species of the same type.
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although option C is a clear winner, does anyone think that the language is too extreme?
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although option C is a clear winner, does anyone think that the language is too extreme?

Yes, even i had an issue with the language. Hence, posted a query for VeritasKarishma. You can refer to her reply above.
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wali786
although option C is a clear winner, does anyone think that the language is too extreme?

Yes, even i had an issue with the language. Hence, posted a query for VeritasKarishma. You can refer to her reply above.
Hello, shanks2020. I was without power for a day and a half after a storm blew through my area, so I am getting to my responses later than usual. I agree with what VeritasKarishma has written above. I would urge you, furthermore, not to lose sight of just how the question is framed. Sometimes extreme language in an answer choice can be called for to eliminate other possibilities. In this case, the question stem asks us to choose an answer that would enable the conclusion... to be properly drawn. Since that conclusion relies on the premise that specimens used to distinguish eleven of the species come from animals that lived in the same area at the same time, by eliminating the possibility that any more than three species of triceratops could have coexisted, the argument that the classification is unjustified is bolstered, just what we want.

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this one. (Dinosaurs were one of my first fascinations in life.)

- Andrew
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Understanding the argument - we need to bolster the conclusion, which is "This classification is unjustified."

Option Elimination -

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil. - out of scope.

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen. Out of scope

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time. - perfect. It can't be 11 then.

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation. - We are concerned about these 16, which have small differences between fossil specimens - out of scope.

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas. - At best, it weakens the conclusion. As it goes in the direction of establishing the credibility of these specimens and their classification.
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rudrimehta
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Over the last century, paleontologists have used small differences bet 23 Jan 2024, 00:20
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My two cents on this - It's easy to mess up if you don't know exactly WHAT you're trying to support so first be clear on the exact conclusion
POE takes care of everything else

(A) Not every species that lived in a given area is preserved as a fossil. - Doesn't do anything to support or negate the argument

(B) At least one individual of every true species of triceratops has been discovered as a fossil specimen. - We sort of already know this, besides if anything it WEAKENS rather than supports the conclusion being drawn

(C) No geographical area ever supports more than three similar species at the same time. - Correct, this throws doubt on the species classification + creates the missing link in the argument

(D) In many species, individuals display quite marked variation. - We're trying to use AREA as a means to disqualify the classification, not distinction between the actual individuals of the species

(E) Differences between fossil specimens of triceratops that came from the same area are no less distinctive than differences between specimens that came from different areas. - If anything weakens?
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