Logical Reasoning

PT146 · S3 · Q17 Photographs show an area

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Photographs show an area of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, where the icy surface appears to have buckled as a result of turbulent water moving underneath.

Conclusion (so)

There is reason to believe that there may be life on Europa.

Evidence

The presence of a sea is thought to be a primary factor for the development of life and,

Intermediate Conclusion (this indicates that)

There is a warm sea beneath Europa's icy surface

Evidence

Since photos show an area where the icy surface appears to have buckled as a result of turbulent (i.e. warmer, liquid water) is moving beneath.

Evaluate

There are two conclusion indicators, "this indicates that" and "so". The chain of reasoning they present looks like this:

Ice buckling from ⇢ warm sea on ⇢ maybe life running water below Europa on Europa + (warm sea primary factor for dev of life)

Goal

We're being asked about the claim that there is a warm sea, so we could call it a Premise, in regards to the conclusion that there may be life on Europa. We can also call it a Conclusion, in regards to the fact that it's supported by photographic evidence of ice buckling.

Something that both has support and provides support can be called an Intermediate or Subsidiary Conclusion.

17.

The claim that there is a warm sea beneath Europa's icy surface figures in the argument in which one of the following ways?

  1. Correct

    It is a subsidiary conclusion

    Why this is right

    Why should we believe that there's a warm sea beneath Europa's icy surface? Because, there's photographic evidence of ice buckling as though water is running beneath it. (If it's supported, it's a Conclusion). And because there's a warm sea on Europa, there might be life on Europa. (so it does support the overall conclusion). If it is both supported and supporting, we can call it an Intermediate or Subsidiary Conclusion.

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

    68% picked this

  2. It is the overall conclusion

    Wrong Role

    The overall conclusion is the final claim, "There may be life on Europa". The claim that there's a warm sea beneath Europa's surface is part of the evidence for the claim that there may be life on Europa.

    1% picked this

  3. It is used to discredit

    Out of Scope

    Out of Scope: theory the argument disputes There isn't any other theory being talked about or disputed in this argument.

    0% picked this

  4. It is the only consideration

    Too Strong: only

    All three claims leading up to the final conclusion (prefaced by "so") are supporting ideas. So it's wrong to this claim is the only consideration supporting the conclusion. It would have been correct to say that this claim is a consideration supporting the overall conclusion.

    11% picked this

  5. It is presented as support

    Wrong Role

    This claim is the subsidiary conclusion. The claim in the argument that is support for a subsidiary conclusion is the first sentence. The photographic evidence is support for the intermediate conclusion that there's a warm sea under the surface of Europa, and the warm sea is support for the overall conclusion that there may be life on Europa.

    20% picked this

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