Critical Reasoning

A detailed lab analysis of a meteorite recently discovered in Antarctica revealed that
the meteorite has geological characteristics common to the planet Mars. To date, scientists
have not found these characteristics anywhere other than on Mars. Using a
technique called "acid-etching," scientists found that the meteorite contained fossilized
remains of single-cell life forms.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following as a conclusion?

(A) The fossilized remains indicate that life exists on Mars.
(B) The scientists have evidence to support a hypothesis that the meteorite came
from Mars.
(C) The meteorite represents a substantial step forward in human knowledge of the development of life in the solar system.
(D) Undiscovered meteorites currently exist in Antarctica.
(E) "Acid-etching" is necessary to confirm the existence of fossilized remains in
meteorites.

OA is B. Why not E ?

Answer E claims that "acid-etching" is necessary to confirm the existence of fossilized remains in meteorites. However, there might be also other scientific methods available to prove the existence of fossilized remains in meteorites. The question does not state that "acid-etching' is the only method available, which means it is useful but probably NOT NECESSARY.

hey_thr67 wrote:A detailed lab analysis of a meteorite recently discovered in Antarctica revealed that
the meteorite has geological characteristics common to the planet Mars. To date, scientists
have not found these characteristics anywhere other than on Mars. Using a
technique called "acid-etching," scientists found that the meteorite contained fossilized
remains of single-cell life forms.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following as a conclusion?

(A) The fossilized remains indicate that life exists on Mars.
(B) The scientists have evidence to support a hypothesis that the meteorite came
from Mars.
(C) The meteorite represents a substantial step forward in human knowledge of the development of life in the solar system.
(D) Undiscovered meteorites currently exist in Antarctica.
(E) "Acid-etching" is necessary to confirm the existence of fossilized remains in
meteorites.

OA is B. Why not E ?

My reasoning: Using "Acid-etching", Scientists found the that the meteorite contained fossilized remains of single-cell life forms. But "Acid-etching" may not be necessary (there might exist some other techniques as well, but in this case scientists used "Acid-etching") to confirm the existence of fossilized remains in meteorites. Moreover, B summarizes the argument better than does E.

why not A or C? Please post OE. I think I miss sth.

IMO, B. The scientists can use this to support the hypothesis that the meteorite came from Mars.

This is a "Must be True" question. So, we need to have support from the passage. Not sure if I am 100%right, though.

Gaurav 2013-fall wrote:why not A or C? Please post OE. I think I miss sth.

A is too strong. We can't guarantee that the fossilized remains mean that life exists on Mars. Note the use of present tense.

C does not fit because the presence of fossilized remains does not necessarily tell us anything about how life developed.

I had posted this problem to differentiate between an assumption question and an must be true. Don't you think E could have been the right answer coupled with corresponding conclusion, had this question be an assumption question.

hey_thr67 wrote:I had posted this problem to differentiate between an assumption question and an must be true. Don't you think E could have been the right answer coupled with corresponding conclusion, had this question be an assumption question.

I don't think we'd have enough information to determine that acid-etching is absolutely necessary.

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:

Gaurav 2013-fall wrote:why not A or C? Please post OE. I think I miss sth.

A is too strong. We can't guarantee that the fossilized remains mean that life exists on Mars. Note the use of present tense.

C does not fit because the presence of fossilized remains does not necessarily tell us anything about how life developed.

I get it Bill! Thanks.

If A was: The fossilized remains indicate that life existed on Mars. Would it have qualified?

Gaurav 2013-fall wrote:

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:

Gaurav 2013-fall wrote:why not A or C? Please post OE. I think I miss sth.

A is too strong. We can't guarantee that the fossilized remains mean that life exists on Mars. Note the use of present tense.

C does not fit because the presence of fossilized remains does not necessarily tell us anything about how life developed.

I get it Bill! Thanks.

If A was: The fossilized remains indicate that life existed on Mars. Would it have qualified?

It would be close, but I don't think it's 100%. If we look at the wording again:

"...revealed that
the meteorite has geological characteristics common to the planet Mars. To date, scientists
have not found these characteristics anywhere other than on Mars."

We can't rule out the possibility that there is some unknown source of meteorites that would also have those characteristics. Is it likely that it came from Mars? Yes. Is it guaranteed? I don't think we can safely say that.

Please clarify between B and D

(B) The scientists have evidence to support a hypothesis that the meteorite came
from Mars.
1. there is no evidence to support that meteorite came from mars. questions says they could not find similar characteristics anywhere -this could be lack on findings of scientists part but it no where relates that meteorite has surely come from mars. though characteristics are similar but it could be similar to some other planet also as scientists have still not explored all the options to say it belongs to mars for sure......hence there is no concrete evidence.

(D) Undiscovered meteorites currently exist in Antarctica.
1. one has found. so atleast one existed there. there could be more or not. but surely one was there. so this statement hold true.

please help to clarify..thanks

(A) The fossilized remains indicate that life exists on Mars.

As stated by bill, I dont think statement A is very strong [using the term "indicate"]. Infact this statement collectively concludes all the facts/assumptions present in the passage

Facts/Assumptions present
1. Meteorite has geological characteristics common to mars
2. Meteorite contained single life cell forms

Statement B - looks like part of this conclusion only.
Statement C - no discussion of development of life in solar system present in the passage
Statement D - No discussion on number of meteorites present in antartica
Statemetn E - Passage doesnt emphasize on validating test methods

Any Help Please !!!!

hultt wrote:Please clarify between B and D

(B) The scientists have evidence to support a hypothesis that the meteorite came
from Mars.
1. there is no evidence to support that meteorite came from mars. questions says they could not find similar characteristics anywhere -this could be lack on findings of scientists part but it no where relates that meteorite has surely come from mars. though characteristics are similar but it could be similar to some other planet also as scientists have still not explored all the options to say it belongs to mars for sure......hence there is no concrete evidence.

(D) Undiscovered meteorites currently exist in Antarctica.
1. one has found. so atleast one existed there. there could be more or not. but surely one was there. so this statement hold true.

please help to clarify..thanks

hultt wrote:Please clarify between B and D

(B) The scientists have evidence to support a hypothesis that the meteorite came
from Mars.
1. there is no evidence to support that meteorite came from mars. questions says they could not find similar characteristics anywhere -this could be lack on findings of scientists part but it no where relates that meteorite has surely come from mars. though characteristics are similar but it could be similar to some other planet also as scientists have still not explored all the options to say it belongs to mars for sure......hence there is no concrete evidence.

(D) Undiscovered meteorites currently exist in Antarctica.
1. one has found. so atleast one existed there. there could be more or not. but surely one was there. so this statement hold true.

please help to clarify..thanks

B doesn't say that the meteorite definitely came from Mars; it says that there is evidence suggesting that it came from mars. From the scientists' current evidence, the evidence would seem to point to that. As I mentioned above, it is possible that the meteorite came from a different source, but the current evidence does support the scientists' hypothesis.

D doesn't work because we can't guarantee that there are other undiscovered meteorites. It is entirely possible that the one being discussed was the only one in Antarctica.

Thanks Bill for the reply.

I perfectly understood your reasoning and 100% agree with that but i am confused why i adopted the other line of reasoning and what is wrong in that