Support Photographs show an area of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, where the icy surface appears to have buckled as a result of turbulent water moving underneath. This photographic evidence indicates that Support there is a warm sea beneath Europa's icy surface. Support The presence of such a sea is thought by scientists to be a primary factor in the early development of life, so Conclusion there is reason to believe that there may be life on Europa.
The author concludes that there is reason to believe that there may be life on Europa. As support for this conclusion, the author cites photographs that show that the icy surface of the moon seems to have buckled because of turbulent water underneath the surface. The author claims that this buckled ice is evidence that there is a warm sea underneath Europa’s icy surface. Scientists believe that a warm sea is a factor in the development of life, so the presence of a warm sea would support the author’s conclusion that there may be life on Europa.
The claim in the question stem is an intermediate conclusion. It receives support from the observation that the icy surface seems to have buckled. This claim then provides support for the main conclusion that there may be life on Europa.
The claim that there is a warm sea beneath Europa's icy surface figures in the argument in which one of the following ways?
It is a subsidiary conclusion used by the argument to support its overall conclusion.
The claim in the question stem is a subsidiary conclusion because it receives support from the observation that the icy surface seems to have buckled, and it goes on to support the argument’s main conclusion that there may be life on Europa.
It is the overall conclusion of the argument.
The overall conclusion of the argument is that there may be life on Europa, not that there is a warm sea beneath Europa’s icy surface.
It is used to discredit a theory that the argument disputes.
The argument does not discuss a theory that it disputes. The argument just works to support the claim that there may be life on Europa.
It is the only consideration presented in support of the argument's overall conclusion.
It is not the only consideration used to support the main conclusion; there is additional evidence offered (for example, that such warm seas are thought to be a primary factor in the development of life).
It is presented as support for a subsidiary conclusion drawn in the argument.
The claim in the question stem is the subsidiary conclusion, it is not used to support the subsidiary conclusion.
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