Logical Reasoning

PT12 · S1 · Q1 It is probably within the reach

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It is probably within the reach of human technology to make the climate of Mars inhabitable.

Main Conclusion

Research efforts aimed at making Mars inhabitable are justified.

Premises

It is probably within reach of human technology to make the climate of Mars inhabitable. It might take centuries — but so did building great temples and cathedrals. Even a chance of making another planet inhabitable justifies the effort. Plus, the work could help us understand atmospheric changes here on Earth.

Evaluate

Each of the other claims is doing supporting work — they are reasons why the research is justified. The justification claim itself is the load-bearing point: the conclusion the rest of the passage is built to support.

Goal

Find the choice that says research efforts are justified — that is the main point everything else supports.

1.

The main point of the argument is that

  1. it is probably technologically possible

    Premise

    "It is probably technologically possible" is a premise — it is offered to support the conclusion that research is justified. The author uses it to argue that the research has a real chance of paying off. It is not the main point itself.

    33% picked this

  2. it would take several centuries

    Premise

    "Several centuries" is mentioned as a premise — the author is acknowledging the long timeline so that the cathedral comparison can address it. It supports the conclusion that the research is still justified despite the wait. It is not the main point itself.

    2% picked this

  3. making Mars inhabitable is an

    Premise

    The cathedral comparison is just an analogy used to support the main claim — it shows that long timelines do not disqualify a project. It is supporting evidence, not the main conclusion. The argument is not really about cathedrals at all.

    1% picked this

  4. Correct

    research efforts aimed at discovering

    Why this is right

    "Research efforts aimed at discovering how to change the climate of Mars are justified" is the main conclusion — the load-bearing claim everything else points toward. The technological possibility, the centuries timeline, the cathedral analogy, and the Earth-atmosphere benefit are all reasons offered to support this very claim. It is the destination of the argument.

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

    60% picked this

  5. efforts to change the climate

    Premise

    The Earth-atmosphere connection is offered as a "besides" — an additional reason to support the conclusion that the research is justified. It is a premise, not the main point. The author mentions it to bolster the case, not to make it the centerpiece of the argument.

    4% picked this

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