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14 Aug 2023, 04:00
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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)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
85% (01:42) correct
15%
(02:03)
wrong
based on 1028
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Recent photographs of the planet Venus reveal long lines that appear to be the result of massive streams of lava from volcanic eruptions. However, the lines cannot have originated from lava flows, since some of these lines are over 1,000 miles long, and recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying.
For an evaluation of the argument, it would be most useful to determine whether
A. craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were
B. the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions
C. there still exist active volcanoes on Venus that could cause new lava flows to occur
D. mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have if they had not encountered such obstructions
E. at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now
For an evaluation of the argument, it would be most useful to determine whether
A. craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were
B. the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions
C. there still exist active volcanoes on Venus that could cause new lava flows to occur
D. mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have if they had not encountered such obstructions
E. at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now
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14 Aug 2023, 07:15
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Recent photographs of the planet Venus reveal long lines that appear to be the result of massive streams of lava from volcanic eruptions. However, the lines cannot have originated from lava flows, since some of these lines are over 1,000 miles long, and recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying.
The conclusion of the argument is the following:
the lines (long lines on Venus that appear to be the result of massive streams of lava from volcanic eruptions) cannot have originated from lava flows
The premises that support the conclusion are the following:
some of these lines are over 1,000 miles long
recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying
The question asks us to find the choice that would be most useful to determine for evaluating the argument. So, we can use the Yes/No test.
A. craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were
Regardless of whether craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were, the lines are still longer than 200 miles.
So, the evidence supports the conclusion regardless of whether this choice is true.
Eliminate.
B. the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions
Notice that regardless of whether this choice is true and that, therefore, there must have been volcanoes on Venus, it's still the case that the lines are too long to have originated from lava flows given the temperature of Venus.
In other words, neither the statement that yes, the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions or the statement that no, the photographs of Venus did not reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions has any effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
C. there still exist active volcanoes on Venus that could cause new lava flows to occur
Notice that, regardless of whether this choice is true and that, therefore, there are active volcanoes on Venus, it's still the case that the lines are too long to have originated from lava flows given the surface temperature of Venus.
Eliminate.
D. mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have if they had not encountered such obstructions
Notice that, regardless of whether this choice is true, the lines do extend father than lava would flow in the temperature on Venus.
In other words, neither the statement that yes, mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have or the statement that no, mountain ranges would not have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have has any effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
E. at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now
Let's try the Yes/No test with this choice.
That statement weakens the argument by showing that the lines could have originated from lava flows when Venus was hotter. After all, if the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now, then lava could have flowed much further than it would now.
That statement strengthens the argument by showing that, when the lines formed, Venus was not hotter than it is now. That information helps to confirm that the lines did not originate from lava flows.
So, if this choice is true, we have a weakener and, if this choice is not true, we have a strengthener.
Therefore, determining whether this choice is true would help in evaluating the argument.
The correct answer is (E).
The conclusion of the argument is the following:
the lines (long lines on Venus that appear to be the result of massive streams of lava from volcanic eruptions) cannot have originated from lava flows
The premises that support the conclusion are the following:
some of these lines are over 1,000 miles long
recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying
The question asks us to find the choice that would be most useful to determine for evaluating the argument. So, we can use the Yes/No test.
A. craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were
Regardless of whether craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were, the lines are still longer than 200 miles.
So, the evidence supports the conclusion regardless of whether this choice is true.
Eliminate.
B. the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions
Notice that regardless of whether this choice is true and that, therefore, there must have been volcanoes on Venus, it's still the case that the lines are too long to have originated from lava flows given the temperature of Venus.
In other words, neither the statement that yes, the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions or the statement that no, the photographs of Venus did not reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions has any effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
C. there still exist active volcanoes on Venus that could cause new lava flows to occur
Notice that, regardless of whether this choice is true and that, therefore, there are active volcanoes on Venus, it's still the case that the lines are too long to have originated from lava flows given the surface temperature of Venus.
Eliminate.
D. mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have if they had not encountered such obstructions
Notice that, regardless of whether this choice is true, the lines do extend father than lava would flow in the temperature on Venus.
In other words, neither the statement that yes, mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have or the statement that no, mountain ranges would not have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have has any effect on the argument.
Eliminate.
E. at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now
Let's try the Yes/No test with this choice.
- Yes, at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now.
That statement weakens the argument by showing that the lines could have originated from lava flows when Venus was hotter. After all, if the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now, then lava could have flowed much further than it would now.
- No, at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now.
That statement strengthens the argument by showing that, when the lines formed, Venus was not hotter than it is now. That information helps to confirm that the lines did not originate from lava flows.
So, if this choice is true, we have a weakener and, if this choice is not true, we have a strengthener.
Therefore, determining whether this choice is true would help in evaluating the argument.
The correct answer is (E).
General Discussion
14 Aug 2023, 04:18
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Bunuel
The story: Recent photographs of the planet Venus reveal long lines that appear to be the result of massive streams of lava from volcanic eruptions → lines are over 1,000 miles long
Conclusion : the lines cannot have originated from lava flows
Reasoning Provided : recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying
We have to evaluate the author's conclusion in light of the information presented in the option choices.
Answer choice elimination
A. craters formed by meteor impacts on Venus could have made some of the lines shorter than they originally were
The information presented in this option is opposite to what we are looking for. We are evaluating the author's conclusion with respect to the support that he has provided in the argument. We can eliminate this option.
B. the photographs of Venus reveal some mountain peaks that could only have been formed by volcanic eruptions
The information presented in this option is not relevant to the conclusion. The conclusion is "the lines cannot have originated from lava flows". How the mountain peaks were created is not in the purview of the conclusion. Hence, we can eliminate this option.
C. there still exist active volcanoes on Venus that could cause new lava flows to occur
While this option presents us with information that the formation of the lines is applicable to this date, the option doesn't present us with information to weigh in on whether the author's conclusion is correct. Hence, we can eliminate this option.
D. mountain ranges might have prevented lava flows from extending farther than they would have if they had not encountered such obstructions
Similar to option A. The information presented in this option is opposite to what we are looking for. We are evaluating the author's conclusion with respect to the support that he has provided in the argument. We can eliminate this option.
E. at the time the lines were formed, the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now
This is correct!
If the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now, the information weakens the author's conclusion as the author's conclusion is solely based on the recently acquired evidence shows that the surface temperature of Venus is not high enough to allow molten lava to travel much more than 200 miles before solidifying.
However, on the other hand, if the surface of Venus was substantially closer to the temperature at which lava melts than it is now, the information makes us believe in the author's conclusion that the lines could not have originated from lava flows. We may have a different reason for the presence of such lines.
Option E
