Paleontologist: Plesiosauromorphs were gigantic

Answer choices

1. A

   Out of Scope / Weaken1% picked this

   Birds and reptiles share many physical features because they descend from

   Any physical features other than fins and wings are not relevant. Furthermore, this provides an alternative explanation for the similarity between fins and wings that may not involve similar hunting patterns.

   1%
2. B

   Too Strong1% picked this

   During the age of dinosaurs, plesiosauromorphs were the only marine reptiles that had

   The argument states that plesiosauromorphs had long, thin fins, but the argument does not need to assume that they were the only marine animals that had such fins.

   1%
3. C

   Unsupported / Too Strong9% picked this

   A gigantic marine animal would not be able to find enough food to meet the caloric requirements dictated by its body size if it

   This does not connect the premise (shape of fins) with the conclusion (hunting strategy). Furthermore, while it would prove that plesiosauromorphs hunted by chasing prey over long distances, it applies broadly to all gigantic marine animals, which the argument does not need to assume.

   9%
4. D

   Reversal7% picked this

   Most marine animals that chase prey over long distances are specialized

   This reverses the assumption that marine animals specialized for long-distance swimming are likely to chase their prey over long distances.

   7%
5. E

   Correct82% picked this

   The shape of a marine animal's fin affects the way the animal swims in the same way as the shape of a bird's wing

   Why this is right

   This connects the common form between the fins and wings to function those fins and wings perform.

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

   82%