StrengthenDiff: Medium
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A bunch of sunken ships made the water around Shooter's Island very calm. Even though the total number of birds is the same as nearby islands, there are way more baby birds there, leading researchers to think the calm water is a nursery.
Conclusion: The calm waters around Shooter's Island act as a nursery for young waterbirds.
Reasoning: While the total bird population is average, there's a significantly higher concentration of juveniles compared to nearby islands, coinciding with the exceptionally still water caused by ship wreckage.
Analysis: The argument assumes a correlation equals causation—that the still water is the specific reason for the high juvenile count. To strengthen this, we need to rule out other reasons why juveniles might flock there or show that still water specifically benefits young birds. Look for an answer that connects the physical property of still water to the survival or preference of juvenile birds specifically.
Conclusion: The calm waters around Shooter's Island act as a nursery for young waterbirds.
Reasoning: While the total bird population is average, there's a significantly higher concentration of juveniles compared to nearby islands, coinciding with the exceptionally still water caused by ship wreckage.
Analysis: The argument assumes a correlation equals causation—that the still water is the specific reason for the high juvenile count. To strengthen this, we need to rule out other reasons why juveniles might flock there or show that still water specifically benefits young birds. Look for an answer that connects the physical property of still water to the survival or preference of juvenile birds specifically.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage6.Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument's conclusion?
Correct Answer
C
C most strongly supports the conclusion by providing the missing causal link: if waterbirds use still waters as nurseries whenever possible, then the unusually high number of juveniles in Shooter’s still waters is best explained by nursery use there.
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