The tidal range at a particular

Answer choices

1. A

   Never a Flaw2% picked this

   It gives only one example of a

   It is true that the argument provided only one example, but we'll never be arguing with an author that they "needed to provide X amount of examples", unless the author was specifically saying, "At least two people in my family can dunk a basketball" and only supplied one example of someone who could. The Bay of Fundy line isn't even part of the reasoning, in this argument. It's just a background fact.

   2%
2. B

   Correct74% picked this

   It fails to consider that the size of a tidal range could be affected by the conditions in

   Why this is right

   When a Flaw answer choice begins with fails to consider / overlooks the possibility, we can ask ourselves whether, if true, it would weaken. Could we hurt this argument by saying, "Yo, author -- the magnitude of a tidal range could be affected by the conditions in which gravitational forces act"? Sure, that could actually contradict the conclusion! The conclusion is saying the magnitude is 100% explained by gravitational forces, but according to this objection, it could be partially explained by environmental factors also (such as weather, topography, altitude, etc.)

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

   74%
3. C

   Irrelevant Objection4% picked this

   It does not consider the possibility that low tides are measured in a different way

   When a Flaw answer choice begins with fails to consider / overlooks the possibility, we can ask ourselves whether, if true, it would weaken. Could we hurt this argument by saying, "Yo, author -- low tides are measured in a different way than high tides are"? It doesn't seem like that does anything. The author's conclusion doesn't care how they're measured. The evidence never suggested that low and high tide need to be measured the same way. Can we get from "low tide is measured differently from high tide" to "the magnitude of tidal ranges is explained at least partly by non-gravitational forces"? No, this answer is only talking about how we attain our measurement of magnitude. It isn't speaking at all to what causes varying magnitudes of tidal ranges.

   4%
4. D

   Not Assumed Too Strong: most17% picked this

   It presumes, without providing warrant, that most activity within the world’s oceans is a result of an

   When a Flaw answer choice begins with presumes / takes for granted, we can ask ourselves whether the author really needed to assume that idea. Did the author need to assume that "most activity in the ocean is a result of gravitational forces?" No, the author is only talking about tidal range. He doesn't have to assume anything about any other activity in the ocean (other than he's assuming that no activities in the ocean affect the magnitude of tidal ranges) .

   17%
5. E

   Irrelevant Objection3% picked this

   It does not differentiate between the tidal effect of the sun and the tidal effect

   That's true, the author did not differentiate between them. Does it matter? Could we hurt this argument by saying, "Yo, author -- the tidal effect of the sun's gravity is different from the tidal effect of the moon's gravity ... so maybe the magnitude of tidal range is explained at least partly by non-gravitational forces"? No, because the tidal effect of the sun and the moon are both gravitational forces.

   3%