tough dinosaur

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tough dinosaur

by sachindia » Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:03 am
Because dinosaurs were reptiles, scientists once assumed that, like all reptiles alive today, dinosaurs were coldblooded.
The recent discovery of dinosaur fossils in the northern arctic, however, has led a number of
researchers to conclude that at least some dinosaurs might have been warm-blooded. These researchers point
out that only warm-blooded animals could have withstood the frigid temperatures that are characteristic of arctic
winters, whereas cold-blooded animals would have frozen to death in the extreme cold. Which one of the
following, if true, weakens the researchers' argument?
A. Today's reptiles are generally confined to regions of temperate or even tropical climates.
B. The fossils show the arctic dinosaurs to have been substantially smaller than other known species of dinosaurs.
C. The arctic dinosaur fossils were found alongside fossils of plants known for their ability to withstand extremely
cold temperatures.
D. The number of fossils found together indicates herds of dinosaurs so large that they would need to migrate to
find a continual food supply.
E. Experts on prehistoric climatic conditions believe that winter temperatures in the prehistoric northern arctic were
not significantly different from what they are today.

My argument. E says temperatures then and now are same. We have reptiles today that are cold blooded. so reptiles which includes dinosaur were cold blooded. this weakens argument.

So E must be right.
What do you say experts?
Regards,
Sach
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:29 am
The correct answer is D. If dinosaurs were migrating, then the fact that there fossils were found in the northern arctic does not prove that they were warm-blooded.
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by mohan514 » Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:28 am
your selection E can at times strenghten the argument but cannot weaken it

as the temperature hasnt changed since then.. so the temperature in past was cold enough to cause death of the dinosaurs

so it would be a weak statement supporting the researchers

hope this helps

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by sachindia » Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:12 am
hi Kasia

My argumentis that E says temperatures then and now are same. We have reptiles today that are cold blooded.(premise says this) so reptiles which includes dinosaur(premise says this) were cold blooded.
this weakens argument.

Mohan,

as the temperature hasnt changed since then.. so the temperature in past was cold enough to cause death of the dinosaurs
In this case, since temp was cold enough to cause their death, they were not warm blooded. and this weakens the argument.
Regards,
Sach

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:56 am
According to answer E, the arctic climate was the same as it is now - VERY COLD. Therefore, what answer E states is that the arctic climate WAS and still IS very cold, making this area a hostile environment for cold-blooded reptiles. So, answer E does not weaken the scientists' argument.
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