Logical Reasoning

PT152 · S2 · Q8 When researchers discovered

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When researchers discovered that cuttlefish have the ability to make themselves suddenly appear larger, they presumed that this behavior, called a “startle display,” was used to scare off predators.

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

8.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain why cuttlefish use startle displays?

  1. Cuttlefish feed primarily on small

    Opposite

    If cuttlefish feed on small fish, why do they use the "startle display" to scare small fish away?

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    Groups of small fish are

    Why this is right

    This indicates that the "startle display" might indirectly protect cuttlefish from predators. The cuttlefish could be scaring the small fish away so that they don't attract predators to wherever the cuttlefish is doing cuttlefish stuff.

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

    96% picked this

  3. Small fish are more easily

    No Impact

    The fact that small fish are scared off more easily doesn't explain why cuttlefish scare them off and don't try to scare off predators. Do they scare small fish just because it's easy, and fun? That sounds like something a 13-year-old human would do, but we aren't given any reason to believe that cuttlefish act like middle school bullies.

    2% picked this

  4. Cuttlefish have acute senses and

    Out of Scope

    Acute senses and the ability to change colors are cool abilities, but they don't explain why the cuttlefish only use the "startle display" to scare off small fish. We need to make a lot of assumptions in order for this to explain the way that cuttlefish use the startle display.

    0% picked this

  5. Unlike insects that use startle

    Half Scope

    This could explain why cuttlefish don't use the startle display with predators, but it doesn't explain the other half of the paradox. Why do they scare off the smaller fish?

    0% picked this

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