PT153 S3 Q10 ExplanationGiant ground sloths began disappearing

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Weakens1% picked this

   Scientists have not found any physical evidence to support the idea that giant ground sloths

   This detracts plausibility from the idea that humans killed off the sloths.

   1%
2. B

   Out of Scope1% picked this

   Species of smaller tree-dwelling sloths continue to live throughout South and

   Out of Scope: other types of sloths We're only discussing the giant ground sloths. And this answer doesn't tell us whether these surviving sloths tolerate humans around. So this does nothing for the conversation.

   1%
3. C

   Weakens, if anything1% picked this

   Their large size made the giant ground sloths less adaptable than most

   "Less adaptable" would make it more plausible that climate change is what killed them.

   1%
4. D

   Unclear Impact2% picked this

   Giant ground sloths are not the only large mammals that began to disappear from the Americas

   Since we know humans arrived shortly before the end of the ice age, and the ice age ended around 10,000 years, if other big animals began to disappear around 10,000 years ago, that might be more compelling evidence for climate change than for the effect of humans. Regardless, it certainly doesn't tilt more strongly toward humans than toward climate change as the probable cause of why these large mammals are disappearing.

   2%
5. E

   Correct95% picked this

   One type of giant ground sloth survived on isolated islands until human beings arrived there well after

   Why this is right

   This is the classic "No Cause, No Effect" type of strengthener. These isolated islands are like "the control group" in a science experiment. They tolerated the shift in climate from before ice age through well after the last ice age. They were doing just fine until HUMANS came!

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

   95%