WeakenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Because people report smelling things when their tiny VNO is stimulated, researchers believe this organ is still active and functional in humans.
Conclusion: The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a functioning sensory organ in the majority of humans.
Reasoning: Most humans possess a microscopic VNO, and when researchers stimulate these cells, subjects report experiencing faint sensations of smell.
Analysis: The argument makes a leap from 'stimulation causes a sensation' to 'this specific organ is a functioning sensory system.' To weaken this, we need to find a reason why that sensation might not actually be coming from the VNO's intended function. For example, if the stimulation process accidentally triggers the standard olfactory nerves, the 'smell' wouldn't prove the VNO itself is working. Look for an answer that suggests the subjects' reports are caused by something other than a functional VNO.
Conclusion: The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a functioning sensory organ in the majority of humans.
Reasoning: Most humans possess a microscopic VNO, and when researchers stimulate these cells, subjects report experiencing faint sensations of smell.
Analysis: The argument makes a leap from 'stimulation causes a sensation' to 'this specific organ is a functioning sensory system.' To weaken this, we need to find a reason why that sensation might not actually be coming from the VNO's intended function. For example, if the stimulation process accidentally triggers the standard olfactory nerves, the 'smell' wouldn't prove the VNO itself is working. Look for an answer that suggests the subjects' reports are caused by something other than a functional VNO.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage2.Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
Correct Answer
A
A undercuts the experimental basis: if researchers didn’t isolate stimulation to only VNO cells, the reported smell sensations might have arisen from other nasal structures. That breaks the link from stimulation to VNO function.
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