Bold CR-5

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Bold CR-5

by gmatblood » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:48 pm
A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given
animal population for long, since there is enough genetic
variation in populations that some members will lack the
trait. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully
for the available resources
. Hence these members of the
population survive and reproduce at a higher rate, crowding
out those with the maladaptive trait.

The proposition that those lacking a maladaptive trait will
compete more successfully for the available resources
figures in the argument in which one of the following
ways?

(A) It expresses a view that the argument as a whole
is designed to discredit.
(B) It is the argument's main conclusion.
(C) It is a premise of the argument.
(D) It presents evidence that the argument attempts
to undermine.
(E) It is an intermediate conclusion of the argument.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by yasha_gmat » Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:02 pm
This was very tricky question for me!

Conclusion:
A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given
animal population for long

Premise :
since there is enough genetic
variation in populations that some members will lack the
trait. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully
for the available resources.

Intermediate Conclusion :
Hence these members of the
population survive and reproduce at a higher rate, crowding
out those with the maladaptive trait.


(A) It expresses a view that the argument as a whole
is designed to discredit.

Opposite answer. Because the statement highlighted is inline with the conclusion

(B) It is the argument's main conclusion.

No. Conclusion of the argument is
A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given
animal population for long

(C) It is a premise of the argument.

Correct

(D) It presents evidence that the argument attempts
to undermine.

Same as (A)

(E) It is an intermediate conclusion of the argument.

No.

OA Please?