Logical Reasoning

PT108 · S3 · Q6 Shortly after the power plant

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Shortly after the power plant opened and began discharging its wastewater into the river, there was a decrease in the overall number of bass caught by anglers downstream from the plant.

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

6.

Each of the following, if true, could explain the decrease described above EXCEPT:

  1. The discharged wastewater made the

    Helps Explain

    There are fewer bass to be caught, because an increase in predators has depleted the bass population.

    1% picked this

  2. The discharged water was warmer

    Helps Explain

    There are fewer bass to be caught, because the bass have swum upstream or far downstream to cooler water.

    1% picked this

  3. Correct

    Because of the new plant,

    Why this is right

    If there are more people fishing, we'd expect MORE bass to be caught. This doesn't explain why FEWER bass are being caught.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    65% picked this

  4. Because of the new plant,

    Helps Explain

    There are fewer bass being caught, because there are fewer anglers fishing downstream of the plant.

    30% picked this

  5. The discharged wastewater created turbulence

    Helps Explain

    There are fewer bass to be caught, because destruction of the habitat downstream from the plant has led to a smaller population of bass in the area.

    2% picked this

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