Logical Reasoning

PT124 · S1 · Q9 Global surveys estimate

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Global surveys estimate the earth's population of nesting female leatherback turtles has fallen by more than two-thirds in the past 15 years.

Global surveys estimate the earth's population of nesting female leatherback turtles has fallen by more than two-thirds in the past 15 years.

Any species whose population declines by more than two-thirds in 15 years is in grave danger of extinction.

The leatherback turtle is clearly in danger of extinction.

The argument assumes that the decline in nesting female leatherback turtles is representative of leatherback turtles generally.

Which one of the following is an assumption that the argument requires?

Correct
The decline in the population
Why this is right
This ensures that the population of leatherback turtles as a whole has declined by two-thirds in the past 15 years.
Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
87% picked this
If the global population of
Out of Scope
The argument is about the current state of the leatherback turtle, so this answer about the future of leatherback turtles is not relevant.
7% picked this
The global population of leatherback
Too Strong
The argument does not need there to be an equal number of male and female leatherback turtles, but rather that the changes in nesting female leatherback turtles are happening across the leatherback turtle population generally.
5% picked this
Very few leatherback turtles exist
Too Strong
There could more than just a few leatherback turtles in captivity—there could be hundreds of them in captivity—and yet the overall leatherback population could have declined by two-thirds within the past 15 years.
1% picked this
The only way to ensure
Out of Scope
The argument is about the current risk of leatherback turtles going extinct. Potential solutions to the problem are not relevant unless they change the current risk level.
0% picked this

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