Bunuel
Zoologist: As part of an experiment, several mature elephants were led to three enclosures- one that contained a distressed calf from the elephant’s herd, one that contained a distressed calf from a different herd, and one that was empty. It was observed that in the majority of cases, the elephants spent more time at enclosures with the calf from their herd than they did at enclosures with the calf from a different herd. This suggests that elephants are more motivated to care for members of their herd than for other elephants.
The zoologist's argument would be most strengthened if it were true that, in the experiment, the elephants led to the enclosures tended to spend more time at the enclosures when
A. they were encouraged by a familiar zookeeper than when they were encouraged by an unfamiliar zookeeper
B. the enclosure was empty than when the enclosure contained a distressed calf from a different herd
C. a distressed calf from the elephants’ herd was in the enclosure than when a distressed calf from the elephants’ herd was visible but outside the enclosure
D. a distressed calf in the enclosure appeared interested in the approaching elephants than when the calf ignored them
E. a distressed calf from a different herd appeared friendly toward elephants than when a distressed calf from a different herd displayed hostility
Experts' Global Explanation: Mind-map: Mature elephants led to three enclosures à one enclosure had calf from the elephant’s herd, one had calf from another herd, and one empty à elephants spent more time with calf from their herd than from another herd à elephants care for members of their herd more than for other elephants (conclusion)
Missing-link: Between elephants spending more time with calf from their herd than from another herd and the conclusion that elephants care for members of their herd more than for other elephants
Expectation from the correct answer choice: To strengthen the conclusion that elephants care for members of their herd more than for other elephants
A. Trap. The argument is concerned with whether elephants care for members of their herd more than other elephants; this answer choice, suggesting that the elephants’ behavior was influenced by whether a familiar zookeeper encourages it, indicates the possibility that the
elephants’ behavior in the experiment could have been
influenced by another factor other than their care, thus, if anything,
casting doubt on, rather than strengthening, the argument. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
B. Trap. This answer choice, suggesting that elephants spent more time at empty enclosures than at an enclosure with a distressed calf from a different herd, indicates the possibility that elephants do not like spending time with a distressed calf from a different herd but
provides no information about whether they care for members of their herd “more” than for other elephants; so, this answer choice simply adds information, which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not strengthen the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
C.
Correct. This answer choice, suggesting that elephants spent more time with a distressed calf from their herd when the calf was inside an enclosure than when it was free, indicates that the
elephants’ behavior was influenced by the presence of the calf inside an enclosure, thus suggesting the possibility that elephants are motivated to care for other elephants in need; together with the experiment’s observation that,
between two calves inside enclosures, elephants spent more time with the calf from their herd, this answer choice strengthens the conclusion that elephants care for members of their herd more than for other elephants. Because this answer choice strengthens the conclusion, this answer choice is correct.
D. This answer choice, suggesting that elephants spent more time with a distressed calf when the calf was interested in the elephants than when the calf ignored the elephants, indicates the possibility that elephants like spending time with other interested elephants but
provides no information about whether they care for members of their herd “more” than for other elephants; so, this answer choice simply adds information, which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not strengthen the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
E. This answer choice, suggesting that elephants spent more time when a distressed calf from a different herd was friendly than when it was hostile, indicates the possibility that elephants like spending time with other friendly elephants but
provides no information about whether they care for members of their herd “more” than for other elephants; so, this answer choice simply adds information, which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not strengthen the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
C is the best choice.