Critical Reasoning

A recent study concludes that prehistoric birds, unlike modern birds, were cold-blooded. This challenges a widely held view that modern birds descended from warm-blooded birds. The conclusion is based on the existence of growth rings in prehistoric birds’ bodily structures, which are thought to be found only in cold-blooded animals. Another study, however, disputes this view. It concludes that prehistoric birds had dense blood vessels in their bones, which suggests that they were active creatures and therefore had to be warm-blooded.

Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the dispute described above in favor of one party to it?

o Some modern warm-blooded species other than birds have been shown to descend from cold-blooded species.

o Having growth rings is not the only physical trait of cold-blooded species.

o Modern birds did not evolve from prehistoric species of birds.

o Dense blood vessels are not found in all warm-blooded species.

o In some cold-blooded species the gene that is responsible for growth rings is also responsible for dense blood vessels.

This is a tough one.

I am leaning towards E. though.

IMO D

A and C can be ruled out.
B-existence of other traits which are not described, but it is said that only cold-bloods have rings. Causality. - can be ruled out
D-blood vessels found in some species and not in others. - but do the cold bloods have vessels? Not sure - can be ruled out
E - explanation for rings and vessels to occur together. - if true then we can say that the birds are cold-blooded. - so E.

Anywise what is the OA?

ska7945 wrote:A recent study concludes that prehistoric birds, unlike modern birds, were cold-blooded. This challenges a widely held view that modern birds descended from warm-blooded birds. The conclusion is based on the existence of growth rings in prehistoric birds’ bodily structures, which are thought to be found only in cold-blooded animals. Another study, however, disputes this view. It concludes that prehistoric birds had dense blood vessels in their bones, which suggests that they were active creatures and therefore had to be warm-blooded.

Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the dispute described above in favor of one party to it?

o Some modern warm-blooded species other than birds have been shown to descend from cold-blooded species.

o Having growth rings is not the only physical trait of cold-blooded species.

o Modern birds did not evolve from prehistoric species of birds.

o Dense blood vessels are not found in all warm-blooded species.

o In some cold-blooded species the gene that is responsible for growth rings is also responsible for dense blood vessels.

Study 1: Prehistoric birds are cold-blooded on account of the existence of growth rings.

Study 2: Prehistoric birds may be warm-blooded on account of the existence of dense blood vessels in their bones.

In Study2, it is possible that Pre-historic birds may not ne warm blooded.

D) explains the above point correctly. Hence, my answer.

I think E cos D says blood vessels only, where as the argument says blood vessels in the bones

Tough one...IMO - E

IMO: E

In my opinion, D gets ruled out because it does not support the second opinion. In resolve the paradox qs, the answer should be such that it allows both parts of the paradox to exist. In this qs choice E allows both parts of the paradox to exist.

OA please.

Cheers!!
Turbo Jet

I think its D and not E..

Reason:-

In E, it says that the gene that is responsible for growth rings and dense blood vessels. It does not imply that cold blooded species had both these features.

In D, if dense blood vessels were not found in warm blooded species, and therefore refutes claim by 2nd party.. This resolves the dispute.

i guess, the answer is E.

oa E

Heh, I sort of laughed at a few of these choices...

A - the first one I laughed at... imagine if this were true.. both parties would be crushed!

B - This says nothing and is an obvious statement.

C - another one I laughed at... see A.

D - This one seems to be disputed... here's why D cannot be correct: while dense blood cells aren't found in all warm-blooded species, it doesn't say that dense blood cells can't be found in cold blooded species.

E - This is perfect! It goes with each party's findings, and uses the opposing party's findings to the supporting party's advantage.

Hi Dommu,

You are rt.
The trick in contradictory/paradox statements is to find the answer choice that will allow both my contradictory statements to remain and will not refute any one of them.

Cheers!!
TJ

One more for D