Logical Reasoning

PT5 · S1 · Q7 Two paleontologists, Dr. Tyson and Dr. Rees

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Two paleontologists, Dr. Tyson and Dr. Rees, disagree over the interpretation of certain footprints that were left among other footprints in hardened volcanic ash at site G. Dr. Tyson claims they are clearly early hominid footprints since they show human characteristics: a squarish heel and a big toe immediately adjacent to the next toe.

Curious Fact

What's the story with these footprints at site G?

Tyson

It's got human-like heel and toe shape (squarish heel and big toe immediately adjacent to the next toe). Thus, the prints are early hominid footprints.

Rees

There's a weird unexpected cross-stepping pattern. These aren't hominid footprints.

Evaluate

It's very rare to see a Disagree question that is just one single paragraph. #EarlyTests

But we know these two disagree about whether these footprints are hominid or not.

That disagreement might be too obvious to be the correct answer. Sometimes, on Disagree questions, when it's very obvious that the two people have opposing conclusions, the correct answer tries to be sneaky by comparing their reasons.

Goal

So let's find an answer that says they disagree about whether "the footprints are from hominids", or an answer that addresses their underlying reasons for coming to these different conclusions.

7.

The disagreement between the two paleontologists is over which one of the following?

  1. Correct

    The relative significance of various

    Why this is right

    This cryptic pile of crap ends up being our best answer. The first sentence literally tells us that the disagree over the interpretation of certain footprints. One interprets them as hominid footprints, and the other interprets them as not-hominid footprints. Arguing in favor of "hominid" is the human-like toe/heel features. Arguing against "hominid" is the cross-stepping pattern. Apparently, Tyson finds the toe/heel features to be MORE significant than the cross-stepping pattern, so she concludes "hominid". And apparently Rees finds the cross-stepping pattern to be more significant than the toe/heel features, so he concludes "not hominid".

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

    59% picked this

  2. The assumption that early hominid

    Both Agree

    Both paleontologists assume that hominid footprints can be distinguished from other footprints. Tyson is making such a distinction by pointing to specific features, and Rees is doing the same by pointing to a feature that argues against hominid origin. To pick this answer, we would need to think that one of them believes that "early hominid footprints are not distinguishable from other footprints", and it doesn't seem like either Dr. believes that.

    8% picked this

  3. The possibility of using the

    Both Agree

    "Gait" refers to the way someone is walking. Rees is explicitly looking at footprints and thinking about what style of walking that implies (in this case, cross-stepping). So he clearly thinks that footprints can support a conclusion about gait. But how can we accuse of Tyson of the extreme position that "footprints can never support a conclusion about gait"?

    14% picked this

  4. The assumption that evidence from

    Half Scope

    Both doctors are supporting their conclusions using evidence from this one paleontologic site, site G. So we can't accuse either doctor of believing that "one site is not enough to support a conclusion".

    13% picked this

  5. The likelihood that early hominids

    Half Scope

    Neither paleontologist directly addresses how likely it is that early hominids walked upright on two feet. We're just trying to assess whether these footprints are from hominids or not.

    6% picked this

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