QUESTION TEXT: When a planetary system forms, the chances…
QUESTION TYPE: Evaluate The Argument
CONCLUSION: It’s unlikely that intelligent life will emerge on a planet.
REASONING: It’s unlikely life will emerge on a small planet if there are no large planets in the solar system. Large planets can block comets that could otherwise destroy the possibility of intelligent life.
ANALYSIS: This sounds like a good argument. But the right answer reminds us that the argument doesn’t tell us how common comets are.
___________
- This doesn’t matter. It only matters whether there are both large planets and smaller planets.
- The stimulus is arguing that intelligent life will never arise at all.
- The second sentence implies that a single large planet would be sufficient.
- CORRECT. If there are no comets in most planetary systems then large planets may not be needed.
- We don’t know if a planet being the size of earth is the main condition for supporting life. This would be a much stronger answer if it said: “How likely it is that a system with a large planet will also have a planet capable of supporting life.”
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