Logical Reasoning

PT133 · S1 · Q2 Jocko, a chimpanzee

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Jocko, a chimpanzee, was once given a large bunch of bananas by a zookeeper after the more dominant members of the chimpanzee's troop had wandered off.

Evidence

Jocko, a chimpanzee, was once given a large bunch of bananas by a zookeeper after the more dominant members of the chimpanzee’s troop had wandered off.

In his excitement, Jocko uttered some loud “food barks.”

The other chimpanzees returned and took the bananas away.

The next day, Jocko was again found alone and was given a single banana.

This time, however, he kept silent.

Conclusion

The zookeeper concluded that Jocko’s silence was a stratagem to keep the other chimpanzees from his food.

Evaluate

It’s possible that Jocko had learned from his mistake and had decided to keep quiet the second time as a way to keep his banana. It’s also possible that a single banana did not excite Jocko as much as a large bunch of bananas. And because Jocko didn’t get so excited, he didn’t accidentally alert the other chimpanzees of the banana’s arrival.

2.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the zookeeper's conclusion?

  1. Chimpanzees utter food barks only

    Strengthen

    This rules out a possible explanation for Jocko’s behavior since Jocko was given a favorite food on both occasions.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    Chimpanzees utter food barks only

    Why this is right

    This ties Jocko’s silence to the quantity of bananas rather than a strategy learned by Jocko after alerting other chimpanzees to the original bunch of bananas.

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

    90% picked this

  3. Chimpanzees frequently take food from

    Out of Scope

    This explains the behavior of other chimpanzees, but not Jocko’s.

    2% picked this

  4. Even when they are alone,

    Too Weak

    This fails to explain why the chimpanzees are making such noises.

    6% picked this

  5. Bananas are a food for

    Too Weak

    This may make bananas more important to Jocko, but it doesn’t support the view that Jocko learned to remain quiet in order to keep his banana.

    0% picked this

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