StrengthenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Real amber with bugs is worth a lot, so fakers put regular bugs into fake resin; therefore, if you see a normal bug in 'amber,' it's probably a fake.
Conclusion: Items sold as amber are more likely to be counterfeit if they contain normal-looking insects than if they do not.
Reasoning: Forgers often place common insects into fake amber to increase its market value, as amber with life forms is more prized.
Analysis: The argument assumes that normal-looking insects are more common in fakes than they are in genuine amber. If real amber actually contained normal-looking insects at a very high rate, then seeing one wouldn't be a strong indicator of a forgery. To strengthen the argument, we need an answer that confirms normal insects are relatively rare in the real stuff. By showing that nature doesn't often trap 'normal' insects in resin, the presence of one becomes a much stronger 'red flag' for a forgery.
Conclusion: Items sold as amber are more likely to be counterfeit if they contain normal-looking insects than if they do not.
Reasoning: Forgers often place common insects into fake amber to increase its market value, as amber with life forms is more prized.
Analysis: The argument assumes that normal-looking insects are more common in fakes than they are in genuine amber. If real amber actually contained normal-looking insects at a very high rate, then seeing one wouldn't be a strong indicator of a forgery. To strengthen the argument, we need an answer that confirms normal insects are relatively rare in the real stuff. By showing that nature doesn't often trap 'normal' insects in resin, the presence of one becomes a much stronger 'red flag' for a forgery.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage7.Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
Correct Answer
E
E says insects trapped in resin are usually fossilized in awkward or grotesque positions. That means genuine fossilized insects won’t look normal, so a normal-appearing insect is a strong sign of fakery—just what the argument needs.
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