Radiocarbon dating is a reliable method of determining

Question

Radiocarbon dating is a reliable method of determining the age of fossils, and larger fossils typically provide much more accurate readings than smaller fossils. In Marunga, which has recently built its first carbon dating laboratory, most fossils that are unearthed are small. Aiming to boost the laboratory's productivity and Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center, the government plans to fund excavations at sites known to contain large fossils.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge.

B. Without government funding, paleontologists seeking to uncover large fossils in Marunga would need to rely heavily on private sources of investment.

C. Many of the fossils unearthed in Marunga can be approximately dated before testing them in the carbon dating laboratory.

D. Large fossils are not generally located in the same parts of Marunga as are small fossils.

E. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics.

EtaCarnia · Answer

Hi , can someone explain the reason why option A is the correct answer.? Thanks

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bronaugust · Answer

To solve this question, let us deploy    IMS's four-step technique   .

STEP #1  ->   IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE

Let us read the question stem to identify the question type. The stem states, ' Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?' What we have is a  weakening  question.

Now that the question type is identified, let us proceed to the second step.

STEP #2  ->   DECONSTRUCT THE ARGUMENT

In a weakening question, it is a must to deconstruct the argument by figuring out the conclusion and the premise. It is worth mentioning that if we encounter a plan/proposal pattern in the argument, the plan itself is the conclusion.

CONCLUSION/PLAN:   The government plans to fund excavations at sites known to contain large fossils.
  PREMISE:   The government aims to boost the laboratory's productivity and Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center, and larger fossils typically provide much more accurate readings than smaller fossils.

We also know from the argument that in Marunga, which has recently built its first carbon dating laboratory, most fossils that are unearthed are small.

Now that the argument is deconstructed, let us proceed to the third step.

STEP #3  ->   FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER

To frame a shadow answer, we must know what the right answer is supposed to do. The option we select must therefore most seriously undermine the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims. The first aim is boosting the laboratory's productivity and the second aim is boosting Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center.

SHADOW ANSWER:   Any situation that if true will lead us to believe that neither laboratory's productivity or Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center will be boosted if the government actually ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils.

STEP #4  ->   PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

We can eliminate all answer options that do not match the shadow answer.

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge.

B. Without government funding, paleontologists seeking to uncover large fossils in Marunga would need to rely heavily on private sources of investment.

C. Many of the fossils unearthed in Marunga can be approximately dated before testing them in the carbon dating laboratory.

D. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics.

E. Large fossils are not generally located in the same parts of Marunga as are small fossils.

B. Without government funding, paleontologists seeking to uncover large fossils in Marunga would need to rely heavily on private sources of investment. -   NOT A MATCH   -  Not worried about what paleontologists will need to rely heavily on without government funding. -    ELIMINATE

C. Many of the fossils unearthed in Marunga can be approximately dated before testing them in the carbon dating laboratory. -   NOT A MATCH   -  Does not undermine the cited aims of the government.  -   ELIMINATE

D. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics. -   NOT A MATCH   -  Not worried about what the largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is.  -   ELIMINATE

E. Large fossils are not generally located in the same parts of Marunga as are small fossils. -   NOT A MATCH   -  Does not undermine the cited aims of the government.  -   ELIMINATE

Hence, A is the right answer.

bronaugust · Answer

If the small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge, neither laboratory's productivity or Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center could be boosted if the government actually ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils. In other words, this answer option most seriously undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims.

sherlocked221B · Answer

I was confused between Option A and Option E, and ended up eliminating Option A because

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge.

Even if the the small fossils are much older and have more prominence to palentologists, it would still be of little to no use, if they are not dated accurately unlike large fossils.
 
However, in E-

E. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics

If there are no qualfiied academics, they can neither bring in productivity nor make Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center, attacking both the aims directly.

Thank you!

Danny134 · Answer

I had exactly the same thought and hence, eliminated A. Can someone please explain in detail why is A chosen over E?

bronaugust · Answer

Hi,   Pranjall8   and  jaswanth_ss !

We are looking for an answer option that introduces a problem with the plan of the government and undermines the cited aims. The plan is to fund excavations at sites known to contain large fossils. The first aim is to boost the laboratory's productivity while the second one is to boost Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center.

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge. - We are not, of course, answering an imaginary question; the question is: Will the situation stated in this answer option most seriously undermine the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

Now, if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils (that is the plan, by the way), will it help the government achieve the 2 aims? Clearly, this option says large fossils promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge, meaning they are of almost no use scientifically. If the large fossils are actually of no use scientifically, and if the government implements the plan, will it boost laboratory's productivity? Of course not! Will it boost Marunga's reputation as a paleontology (  Paleontology is the  scientific  study of life that existed prior to the start of the Holocene epoch).   center? Again, no! Therefore, A directly undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims.

So, there is no reason to eliminate (A).

Now, let us analyse option (E).

E. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics - Remember, we are asking the same question while analysing each answer option:  Will this situation most seriously undermine the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

Now if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils (again, that is the plan), will it help the government achieve the 2 aims? This option does not directly bring in a problem with the plan. This speaks of the largest obstacle. And remember, obstacles are meant to be surmounted. So, even if the largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding but availability of qualified academics, and if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils, it will not tell us anything about whether the aims will be achieved through this plan. It does not undermine the cited aims as such. If anything, it strengthens. If there is a lack of qualified academics, then bringing in large fossils may actually work in favor of the government (for they provide more accurate readings, and you need not be qualified if the readings themselves end up being accurate). So, it can even end up boosting the laboratory's productivity.

We are looking for an answer option that introduces a problem with the plan of the government and undermines the cited aims. The plan is to fund excavations at sites known to contain large fossils. The first aim is to boost laboratory's productivity while the second one is to boost Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center.

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge. - We are not, of course, answering an imaginary question; the question is: Will this situation most seriously undermine the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

Now if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils (that is the plan, by the way), will it help the government achieve the 2 aims? Clearly, this option says large fossils promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge, meaning they are of almost no use. If the large fossils are actually of new use, and if the government implements the plan, will it boost laboratory's productivity? Of course not! Will it boost Marunga's reputation as a paleontology center? Again, no! Therefore, A directly undermines the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims.

So, there is no reason to eliminate (A).

Now, let us analyse option (E).

E. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics - Remember, I am asking the same question while analysing each answer option:  Will this situation most seriously undermine the likelihood that the government funding, if implemented, will achieve both of the cited aims?

Now if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils (that is the plan, by the way), will it help the government achieve the 2 aims? This option does not directly bring in a problem with the plan. This speaks of the largest obstacle. And remember, obstacles are meant to be surmounted. So, even if the largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding but availability of qualified academics, and if the government ends up funding excavations at sites known to contain large fossils (that is the plan, by the way), will it help the government achieve the 2 aims? Of course, we do not know! But it does not undermine the cited aims as such! If anything, it strengthens. If there is a lack of qualified academics, then bringing in large fossils may actually work in favor of the government (for they provide more accurate readings, and you need not be qualified if the readings themselves end up being accurate) and end up boosting the reputation besides laboratory's productivity.

Hence, (E) cannot be the correct answer.

vijayakrishnan · Answer

How would unearthing large fossils and dating them (even if scientifically unnecessary) not boost productivity? Productivity is simply amount of work completed. What the work is used for is immaterial. If a factory makes a lot of engine parts very efficiently but the parts are not used anywhere, does that mean that the factory has low productivity? Most of the explanations here are simply trying to justify a very iffy OA.

purplelemonsoda · Answer

A. The small fossils in Marunga are much older and of greater paleontological interest than large fossils in the area, which promise little in the way of advancing scientific knowledge.
 
This undermines the second aim (reputation as a paleontology center). If small fossils are scientifically more significant, focusing on large fossils may harm Marunga's reputation.
It also indirectly challenges the first aim because a laboratory producing less scientifically valuable data may not be seen as "productive."
Strength of undermining: Strong.

B. Without government funding, paleontologists seeking to uncover large fossils in Marunga would need to rely heavily on private sources of investment.

This suggests that government funding is essential but does not challenge the effectiveness of the plan itself. It doesn't undermine the likelihood of achieving the two aims.
Strength of undermining: Weak.

C. Many of the fossils unearthed in Marunga can be approximately dated before testing them in the carbon dating laboratory.

While this may reduce the need for precise carbon dating, it doesn’t challenge the plan's effectiveness in increasing productivity or improving Marunga's reputation.
Strength of undermining: Weak.

D. Large fossils are not generally located in the same parts of Marunga as are small fossils.

This is irrelevant to whether the plan will achieve its aims. The logistical separation of sites has no bearing on the productivity of the lab or Marunga's reputation.
Strength of undermining: Weak.

E. The largest obstacle in the way of Marunga's development as a paleontology center is not funding, but availability of qualified academics.

This undermines the second aim (reputation as a paleontology center). Even with large fossils and increased lab productivity, the lack of academics might prevent Marunga from gaining recognition.
Strength of undermining: Moderate.

Radiocarbon dating is a reliable method of determining

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Radiocarbon dating is a reliable method of determining

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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