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dolphins

by neoreaves » Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:49 am
Sometimes when their trainer gives the hand signal for "Do something creative together" two dolphins circle a pool in tandem and then leap through the air simultaneously. On the other occasions, the same signal elicits synchronized backward swims or tail-waving. These behaviors are not simply learned responses to a given stimulus. Rather, dolphins are capable of higher cognitive functions that may include the use of language and forethought.

　　Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

　　(A) Mammals have some resemblance to one another with respect to bodily function and brain structure.

　　(B) The dolphins often exhibit complex new responses to the hand signal.

　　(C) the dolphins are given food incentives as part of their training.

　　(D) Dolphins do not interact with humans the way they interact with one another.

　　(E) Some of the behaviors mentioned are exhibited by dolphins in their natural habitat
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by tpr-becky » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:03 pm
we want to strenthen the conclusion that dolphins are capable of higher cognitive functions based on the fact that they do two different activities when given a hand signal. so we have to show that the dolphin understands that the hand signal gives them a choice of what to do and activities are thought out and not random

A) This says nothing about the signal or thinking capability

B) This says that they understand that the hand signal is telling them to do somethign creative and acting on this

c) doesn't matter how they are trained, just whether they think beyond doing one activity

d) We don't really care how they interact with on another - just can they think

e) but this doesn't tell us whether they are thinking about the behaviours or not.

Therefore B is the best answer.
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by reply2spg » Thu Apr 22, 2010 3:50 pm
B is best here. It took me 2 minutes. Scope is dolphins and not mammals.
neoreaves wrote:Sometimes when their trainer gives the hand signal for "Do something creative together" two dolphins circle a pool in tandem and then leap through the air simultaneously. On the other occasions, the same signal elicits synchronized backward swims or tail-waving. These behaviors are not simply learned responses to a given stimulus. Rather, dolphins are capable of higher cognitive functions that may include the use of language and forethought.

　　Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

　　(A) Mammals have some resemblance to one another with respect to bodily function and brain structure. - Out of scope

　　(B) The dolphins often exhibit complex new responses to the hand signal. I was looking for the answer something like this. Passage talks about two actions, if we show some more actions or some complex actions then we can provide support to the conclusion. B does the same. Therefore, B is the answer


　　(C) the dolphins are given food incentives as part of their training. - Out of scope

　　(D) Dolphins do not interact with humans the way they interact with one another. - This is obvious elimination, we know dolphin is an animal and it does not interact with human being.

　　(E) Some of the behaviors mentioned are exhibited by dolphins in their natural habitat - This option actually weakens the conclusion. If these behaviors are natural then dolphins don't have any cognitive ability.
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by CrazyGmatter » Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:50 pm
I was stuck between B and E ..chose E..

because if some of the behavior mentioned are found in their natural habitat, this implies that the behavior isn't the result of the training but because of the dolphin's higher cognitive functions.


As premise talks of the same hand signal for 2 different behavior

In B, it just talks about a complex response to the hand signal (we don't know which hand signal)
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by sumanr84 » Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:42 am
tpr-becky wrote: e) but this doesn't tell us whether they are thinking about the behaviours or not.

Therefore B is the best answer.
I cudn't understand what you mean in E ??

If I look at the stimulus portion " These behaviors are not simply learned responses to a given stimulus...",

I feel E is the correct choice. E affirms to the fact that they exhibit these behaviors under natural circumstances.
I am on a break !!
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