For the first time, an earth-like planet has been discovered.

Question

For the first time, an earth-like planet has been discovered. This planet is orbiting another star. Since we can now say with confidence that at least some of the 100 billion other stars like our sun may have planets like earth, the greatest chance for extraterrestrial life to exist is outside our solar system.

The argument above assumes which of the following?

A. Extraterrestrial organisms are likely to appear in forms similar to terrestrial ones.

B. Life cannot exist on the other planets of our solar system.

C. Life will always occur wherever earth-like planets exist.

D. Life is most likely to arise under earth-like conditions.

E. Life from other kinds of planets is too difficult to detect.

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kb26 · Answer

Evidence --> another earth like planet found orbiting another star.

Conclusion --> greatest chance for finding extraterrestrial life is outside our solar system.

So, assumption will relate earth like planet to life. This provided by option D.

A. out of scope. Argument is not talking about orgabisation form.

B. Argument is not talking about our solar system. Another star is the clue. So, not related.

C. Always makes this option strong.

E. Argument is not talking about detection difficulty. So, not related.

dhart · Answer

option c gives a sureshot that life wil exist on earth like planet whereas passage sugests maximum possibilities. So, the closest possibility is suggest by the option, life is most likely to arise under earth-like conditions option d

vasu1104 · Answer

for first time they found the earth like planet. this planet is orbiting another star.
at least 100 billion other star like our sun may have planets like earth.
conclusion= greatest chance for extraterrestrial life to exist is outside out solar system.

so they found another earth like planet and on earth we have extraterrestrial life so they concluded that there is possibility of it outside our sytem.

A out of scope. out.
B not concerned about other planets of our solar system.
C always is bit extreme and we dont need to assume that it has to be always, out.
D just finding planet is not enough. those planets need to have earth like condition to make this conclusion. so this choice does that for us. keep.
E this is irrelevant here. out.

choice D

Vivek1707 · Answer

The argument assumes that if Earth-like planets exist elsewhere, they are good places for life to arise.
A. This is about what extraterrestrial life would look like, not where it is most likely to exist.
B. We don't need to assume that life cannot exist elsewhere in our solar system.
C. “Always occur” is far too strong. The argument only needs Earth-like conditions to make life more likely, not guaranteed.
D. The argument relies on the assumption that life is most likely to arise under Earth-like conditions. Otherwise, discovering Earth-like planets wouldn't justify saying the greatest chance of extraterrestrial life is outside our solar system.
E. Detectability isn't relevant to where life is most likely to exist.

SwethaReddyL · Answer

A. Extraterrestrial organisms are likely to appear in forms similar to terrestrial ones. - not the required assumption

B. Life cannot exist on the other planets of our solar system. - not filling the gap

C. Life will always occur wherever earth-like planets exist. - always is the generalization here and it's out

D. Life is most likely to arise under earth-like conditions. - this perfectly fills the gap - hold on

E. Life from other kinds of planets is too difficult to detect. - out of scope

Only option D fills the gap and so the required assumption

Thanks,
Swetha

counterclash1 · Answer

Correct Answer: D

Premise: 
- Many stars outside our solar system have Earth-like planets.
Conclusion: 
- The greatest chance for extraterrestrial life is outside our solar system.

Logical Gap:
The author equates "abundance of Earth-like planets" with "best chance for life."

Negation of (D):
"Life is NOT most likely to arise under earth-like conditions."
If life is equally or more likely to arise in conditions common to our own 
solar system (e.g., Jupiter's moons, Mars), then the discovery of distant 
Earth-like planets does not mean the greatest chance for life lies outside. 
The conclusion collapses.

Therefore, D is the required assumption.

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

Correct Choice: (D)

The conclusion is that “the greatest chance for life to exist is outside our solar system” because we know that there are earth-like planets in other solar systems. To link evidence and conclusion, we must assume that there is a connection between the presence of earth-like conditions and an increased chance for the existence of life. So choice (D) is correct.

Choice (A) is out of scope, since we’re concerned only with whether life exists, not what form it takes.

Choices (B) and (C) are too extreme (note the strong wording: “cannot exist” and “will always”).

Choice (E) is out of scope, since we’re not concerned with detecting life, but with whether it exists.

For the first time, an earth-like planet has been discovered.

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For the first time, an earth-like planet has been discovered.