broall wrote:
The Gulches is an area of volcanic rock that is gashed by many channels that lead downhill from the site of a prehistoric glacier to a river. The channels clearly were cut by running water. It was once accepted as fact that the cutting occurred gradually, as the glacier melted. But one geologist theorized that the channels were cut in a short time by an enormous flood. The channels do show physical evidence of having been formed quickly, but the flood theory was originally rejected because scientists knew of no natural process that could melt so much ice so quickly. Paradoxically, today the scientific community accepts the flood theory even though scientists still do not know of a process that can melt so much ice so quickly.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox in the passage?
(A) Rippies, which indicate that the channels were cut by water, have been discovered in the floors of the channels.
(B) The Guiches is known to be similar in certain respects to many other volcanic rock formations.
(C) More than one glacier was present in the area during prehistoric times.
(D) Volcanic rock is more easily cut by water than are other forms of rock.
(E) Scientists now believe that the prehistoric glacier dammed a source of water, created a huge lake in the process, and then retreated.
A) scientists used to not believe in the flood theory, because they didn't know how ice could melt so quickly (so as to flow down the rock so fast)
(B) scientists now believe in flood theory, even though they still don't know of a scientific process that can make ice melt so quickly.
We need an answer that helps explain why this might be.
The reason that (E) is correct is because it gives evidence to the point that the flood did occur. So, even if the scientists haven't figured out that one thing (how ice melted so quickly), it's still likely that the flood did occur and cause the ripples.
Take for example the following argument:
It used to be that people believed the sun revolved around the earth, and one reason was that no one had gone to the sun.
It is now believed that the earth revolves around the sun, even though no one has yet to go to the sun.
Notice this analogy shares a common trait with our original argument:
The evidence used before has still not been resolved, but that doesn't mean the opinion can't be changed.
(D) does not resolve the paradox because the paradox does not involve a comparison of one type of rock to another.
(C) it didn't say that these glaciers were on top of this mountain. It just said that they were "in the area". So the fact that there are more glaciers is irrelevant.
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