Critical Reasoning

Source : Grockit

Studies show that the double-jointed digits of the Mandarin Ferret evolved to assist it in obtaining fruit from its sole food source, the New Zealand Banananut tree. Today, the Banananut tree is found only in New Zealand. Scientists have recently discovered in Hawaii the 2000 year-old fossilized remains of a previously undiscovered small mammal with the same uniquely double-jointed digits. Therefore, the New Zealand Banananut tree must have, at one point, grown in Hawaii.

Which of the following argumentative techniques is employed by the author?

A) Reconciling seemingly incompatible evidence with a unifying theory.
B) Revising an earlier theory based on newly discovered evidence.
C) Interpreting new evidence in light of established facts.
D) Theorizing about the evolution of a modern adaptation based on new information regarding that adaptation's origins.
E) Explaining the differences between a modern mammal and the ancient mammal from which it evolved.

IMO B

imo A

Hi Guys,

OA is C

IMO A

What has happened? The author has found new evidence - the Hawaiian fossil.

What did he do? Used established facts (the Mandarin ferret's double-jointed digits and their relation to the Banananut tree) to interpret the presence of the new fossil in Hawaii.

The answer is C.

Tani Wolff - Kaplan wrote:What has happened? The author has found new evidence - the Hawaiian fossil.

What did he do? Used established facts (the Mandarin ferret's double-jointed digits and their relation to the Banananut tree) to interpret the presence of the new fossil in Hawaii.

The answer is C.

Hi Tani,

thanks for the reply. Can you please explain me what makes 'D' wrong choice?
While doing this question, I was confuse between C and D, and finally ended up choosing D.

My understanding was like this -

Double-joined digit helped of an animal helps it to obtain food from Bananut tree, which is only found in NZ.
Recent discovery shows that some mammal in Hawaii had similar joined-Digit. So there must be some Banananut tree in Hawaii. So NZ-B-Tree must have at some point grown in Hawaii.



Thanks,

D refers to a modern adaptation, but the conclusion is about the fossilized remains in Hawaii.

Tani Wolff - Kaplan wrote:D refers to a modern adaptation, but the conclusion is about the fossilized remains in Hawaii.

Hi Tani,

Isn't conclusion about "Origin of Bananut tree" ?

Fossils are the evidence used to support conclusion.

Thanks,

conclusion is drawn from fossilized evidence - therefore it refers to something that happened long ago, not to a current situation. Also, the conclusion addresses banananut tree's presence, not its adaptation.