Tiny channels on the footpads of tree frogs give these frogs the

Question

Tiny channels on the footpads of tree frogs give these frogs the ability to repeatedly adhere to surfaces without the cracking that occurs when adhesive tape is reused in a similar manner. A new commercially available tape mimics these channels, not only giving the tape the ability to be reused many times, but also increasing the tape’s adhesiveness. If tree frogs had become extinct five years ago, as was feared at the time, this tape would not now be available.

Which of the following most weakens the conclusion in the argument above?

(A) The footpads of tree frogs are not as adhesive as the foot pads of certain lizards that are in no danger of extinction.

(B) At the time when concern was raised over the possible extinction of the tree frog, the actual risk of extinction was greatly overestimated.

(C) The tape was designed by looking at the footpads of the preserved remains of tree frogs that had died of natural causes.

(D) A commercially available adhesive tape that has been chemically treated can be reused in much the same manner as the tape that mimics the footpads of tree frogs.

(E) Tests have shown that the footpads of tree frogs become slightly less adhesive as the frogs age.

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Dereno · Answer

Tiny channels on the footpads of tree frogs give these frogs the ability to repeatedly adhere to surfaces without the cracking that occurs when adhesive tape is reused in a similar manner. A new commercially available tape mimics these channels, not only giving the tape the ability to be reused many times, but also increasing the tape’s adhesiveness.  If tree frogs had become extinct five years ago, as was feared at the time, this tape would not now be available.

Which of the following   most weakens the conclusion   in the argument above?

The bolded part is the conclusion of the argument above.

We need to bring something to the table, that weakens the extinction clause mentioned.

If we are able to say, the same foot pads were found in other organisms apart from, tree frogs. 
or
  even after extinct if we are able to analyse the foot pads . Then that options weaken the conclusion.

(A) The footpads of tree frogs are not as adhesive as the foot pads of certain lizards that are in no danger of extinction.

comapres foot frogs with lizards, but says adhesive not as same. So can’t weaken. Even though a different organism comparison is proposed.

(B) At the time when concern was raised over the possible extinction of the tree frog, the actual risk of extinction was greatly overestimated.

No evidence to support the risk of extinction being overestimated. Out of scope.

(C) The tape was designed by looking at the footpads of the preserved remains of tree frogs that had died of natural causes. 
 
Having died of natural causes, put forth the idea that the tiny channels within foot pad are intact. From their remains we can ascertain the adhesive nature.

(D) A commercially available adhesive tape that has been chemically treated can be reused in much the same manner as the tape that mimics the footpads of tree frogs.

This statement provides a different product which is similar to the foot pads of tree frogs. But, the conclusion statement about extinction of tree frogs is no where correlated. So even though it might feel as a weakener, it doesn’t weaken the conclusion.

(E) Tests have shown that the footpads of tree frogs become slightly less adhesive as the frogs age.
 Out of scope. Age is not related .

hence,  option C

ManifestDreamMBA · Answer

Conclusion: If tree frogs had become extinct five years ago, as was feared at the time, this tape would not now be available.

Prethinking: The conclusion suggests there was some dependency on the frog's being alive for the creation of the tape. If we can eliminate that, we can weaken the conclusion

(A) The footpads of tree frogs are not as adhesive as the foot pads of certain lizards that are in no danger of extinction.  Irrelevant, we don't need to know the strength of adhesive of the frogs

(B) At the time when concern was raised over the possible extinction of the tree frog, the actual risk of extinction was greatly overestimated.  Irrelevant, the extinction prediction being wrong has nothing to do with the conclusion. If at all, it kind of strengthens the conclusion suggesting frogs indeed were available and might have somehow helped with the creation of the tape

(C) The tape was designed by looking at the footpads of the preserved remains of tree frogs that had died of natural causes.  This eliminates the need for the frogs being alive as the design was studied from the preserved remains of the frogs. This is aligned with the pre-thinking

(D) A commercially available adhesive tape that has been chemically treated can be reused in much the same manner as the tape that mimics the footpads of tree frogs.
 Irrelevant, we already know this from the passage, we don't care how the adhesive tape was created using chemicals

(E) Tests have shown that the footpads of tree frogs become slightly less adhesive as the frogs age.
 Irrelevant, we don't care how the strength changes over time. If at all, this kind of strengthens the conclusion by suggesting that the study needed relatively young frogs and not the old ones at the brim of extinction

Abhiswarup · Answer

I think C Should be answer.

The argument in the passage is that adhesive couldn't have been available if treefrogs were extinct 5 years ago.

(A) The footpads of tree frogs are not as adhesive as the foot pads of certain lizards that are in no danger of extinction. Keep this option we have to see whether any better option is there. By introducing a different species which isn't extinct may weaken argument.

(B) At the time when concern was raised over the possible extinction of the tree frog, the actual risk of extinction was greatly overestimated. Even if it was overly estimated but it didn't weakens the possibility adhesive couldn't be made entirely.

(C) The tape was designed by looking at the footpads of the preserved remains of tree frogs that had died of natural causes. In this option the adhesive has been made from a preserved remains of tree frog thus even if the tree frog has gone extinct still adhesive would have been made. Thus, correct answer.

(D) A commercially available adhesive tape that has been chemically treated can be reused in much the same manner as the tape that mimics the footpads of tree frogs. Eliminate repetition of facts from passage.

(E) Tests have shown that the footpads of tree frogs become slightly less adhesive as the frogs age. Eliminate, irrelevant.

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Option C because  (C) The tape was designed by looking at the footpads of the preserved remains of tree frogs that had died of natural causes. This option says that the adhesive was made from the preserved remains of tree frog thus even if the tree frog had gone extinct, still the adhesive would have been made. Therefore, this one is correct answer.

All the other options doesn't make sense and neither hurts the conclusion.

Bunuel · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Answer: C

Explanation: The conclusion in the argument is that the tape would not be available if the frogs had become extinct. If, however, as choice C states, the tape were designed by looking at dead frogs, it would not matter if there were no live frogs. Therefore, this choice weakens the conclusion.

(A) This comparison is irrelevant. We cannot assume that the same tape would have been invented by looking at lizards.

(B) The conclusion is based on the proposition “If tree frogs had become extinct”, so the fact that they were not actually going to become extinct is out of the scope.

(D) The argument is strictly about a particular tape, so any discussion of other tapes is out of the scope.

(E) This does not weaken the conclusion. No claim was made that the frogs’ footpads would never lose adhesiveness.

Tiny channels on the footpads of tree frogs give these frogs the

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Tiny channels on the footpads of tree frogs give these frogs the

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