The current theory about earthquakes

Answer choices

1. A

   Premise12% picked this

   No increases in temperature have been detected

   This is the evidence for the author's conclusion that "the current theory isn't fully plausible yet".

   12%
2. B

   Correct78% picked this

   The current theory does not fully explain

   Why this is right

   This is a soft takedown of the current theory -- it isn't fully proving itself to be correct. The theory would predict enormous heat, but earthquake data doesn't show increases in heat.

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

   78%
3. C

   Too Strong1% picked this

   No one will ever be sure what the true cause of

   There's no way to get from what it says in this paragraph to the extreme fatalism of "no one will ever be sure what the real answer is".

   1%
4. D

   Not Supported8% picked this

   Earthquakes produce enormous amounts of heat that have so far

   This theory predicts a mechanism for earthquakes that would be expected to generate enormous amounts of heat. We haven't been able to detect that heat though. It's possible that our detection skills are lacking, but it's also possible that the theory is just wrong. The author hasn't accepted that the theory is right, so she hasn't accepted that earthquakes necessarily produce enormous amounts of heat.

   8%
5. E

   Too Strong1% picked this

   Contrary to the current theory, earthquakes are not caused by adjoining plates of rock sliding

   The author hasn't said anything strong enough to indicate that we should throw the current theory into the garbage. Saying "at least one thing remains mysterious" is still leaving the door open that the theory could be saved.

   1%