Logical Reasoning

PT142 · S2 · Q12 Shark teeth are among the most

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Shark teeth are among the most common vertebrate fossils; yet fossilized shark skeletons are much less common—indeed, comparatively rare among fossilized vertebrate skeletons.

Apparent Paradox

Shark teeth are among the most common vertebrate fossils.

Yet fossilized shark skeletons are much less common—indeed, comparatively rare among fossilized vertebrate skeletons.

Evaluate

There must be something different about shark teeth than shark skeletons that could explain why shark teeth are so common while shark skeletons are not.

12.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox described above?

  1. Correct

    Unlike the bony skeletons of

    Why this is right

    This explains why shark teeth are more common than than shark skeletons. Shark skeletons are composed of cartilage and cartilage is much less likely to fossilize than teeth and bone.

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

    89% picked this

  2. The rare fossilized skeletons of

    Too Weak

    That shark skeletons are found in different areas than shark teeth does not explain why they are found less often than shark teeth.

    2% picked this

  3. Fossils of sharks' teeth are

    Too Weak

    For this to explain the abundance of shark teeth relative to shark skeletons it would need to be assumed that other kinds of teeth are misidentified as shark teeth. If shark teeth were misidentified as other kinds of teeth, then the apparent paradox would be deepened for the abundance of shark teeth relative to shark skeletons would be even greater than is now understood.

    1% picked this

  4. Some species of sharks alive

    Too Weak

    This is about some species of shark alive today, while the apparent paradox centers on fossilized shark teeth and skeletons. Without knowing that these sharks that grow and lose many sets of teeth existed in the past, this cannot explain the fossil record.

    7% picked this

  5. The physical and chemical processes

    Too Weak

    This does not necessarily explain why there are more fossilized shark teeth than skeletons, since it does not make those conditions that fossilize teeth more common.

    0% picked this

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