Logical Reasoning

PT127 · S3 · Q22 On the basis of relatively

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On the basis of relatively minor morphological differences, some scientists suggest that Neanderthals should be considered a species distinct from Cro-Magnons, the forerunners of modern humans.

Facts

Some scientists say that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons are two different species. They lived in different environments but used the same tools. If you use similar tools → then you face same daily challenges. This suggests they were actually the same species, and their minor differences were due to different environments.

Evaluation

Correct answers to Must Be False almost always do one of two things: - contradict a conditional statement provided - contradict an inference we could make by combining 2 or more claims

Is there a conditional statement? Yes. use similar tools → face same daily challenges A correct answer could say,

Are there any available inferences? Yes. Since we know Neanderthal's and Cro-Magnon's used the same tools, we can apply the conditional rule and infer that Neanderthal's and Cro-Magnon's faced the same daily challenges

Since facing the same daily challenges suggests that the two species were members of the same species, we can infer that members of a given species tend to face similar daily challenges.

Goal

Look for an answer that says, "same tools, but NOT same daily challenges" or one saying or one saying or anything else that contradicts something we were told

22.

If the statements above are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:

  1. Morphological differences between the members

    Too Strong: "guarantee"

    In order to contradict this, the passage would have needed to say that morphological differences guarantee that the two populations are two different species. We can't find support for that strong an idea.

    6% picked this

  2. Correct

    The daily challenges with which

    Why this is right

    We inferred from the conditional rule that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons faced the same daily challenges (despite living in different environments). This answer contradicts that idea, saying that if you live in different environments, it's impossible to have the same daily challenges (each set of daily challenges is unique).

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

    60% picked this

  3. There are greater morphological differences

    Unsupported Comparison

    Unsupported Comparison: "Neanderthal's vs. Humans / CroMagnon's vs. humans" We weren't given any information allowing us to compare Neanderthals or Cro-Magnons to humans, so we can't speak to which group would have more morphological differences.

    15% picked this

  4. Use of similar tools is

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: "same species, different tools" In order to contradict the idea that "X is required if Y is to be true", you'd need an example where Y was true, even though X was not. So in order for us to be able to contradict this answer, we would need to have an example where two groups of hominids were members of the same species, but they did not use similar tools. The stimulus only talks about two groups who did use similar tools, so we can't contradict this.

    15% picked this

  5. Through much of their coexistence,

    Out of Scope Comparison

    Out of Scope Comparison: "isolated vs. not isolated" This seems pretty compatible with the passage, since we know that these two groups lived in different environments. Maybe they were isolated, maybe not. We don't have a way to contradict it and show that the two groups definitely had geographic connections.

    4% picked this

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