PrepTest 108, Section 4, Question 2
Naturalists have long studied the ability of North(449 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(23 more words not shown)
- AAbsence of evidence(13 more words not shown)
- BDissimilar species tend(4 more words not shown)
- CThe existence of(13 more words not shown)
- DA theory can(13 more words not shown)
- EAcceptance of a(8 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Torpor saves energy by allowing body temperature to drop. Why reject it as the kinglets' explanation? The final paragraph says researchers found nothing showing that kinglets use torpor (paragraph 4). The reasoning is that finding no evidence of the behavior counts against its occurring.
What we’re looking for
Now match that move to a general statement.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
Absence of evidence means no evidence was found; evidence for absence means a reason to think the behavior isn't happening. Those are the two steps in the researchers' reasoning. A says the first can count as the second, not that it proves impossibility in every situation.
- B
They don't reject torpor just because chickadees and kinglets are different species. The stated reason is the missing evidence in kinglets.
- C
This starts with evidence that exists but doesn't establish the theory. Here, researchers report finding no evidence of torpor in the first place.
- D
Several initial tests with inconclusive results aren't described. That's an added account of how the researchers reached their view.
- E
Scientific agreement isn't discussed as a condition for acceptance. No consensus is given as the reason for rejecting torpor.
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