Self-study
There is evidence to suggest that Support our cave-dwelling ancestors polished many of their flints to a degree far surpassing what was necessary for hunting purposes. ██ ██████ ██████████ ████ █████ ██████ █████████ ██ █████████ ██████
Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that early humans could appreciate aesthetics. This is shown by the phenomenon that early humans often polished stones more than was needed for hunting purposes.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that the only reason early humans would polish flints beyond what was necessary for hunting is to appreciate the aesthetics of the highly polished stones. The author further assumes that there are no other explanations for this degree of polishing.
18.
Which one of the following ███████████ ██ █████ ████ █████████ ███████ ███ █████████
a
Most flints used ██ ███ █████████████ █████████ ████ ███ ██████ █████████
This does not affect the argument. The premise states that “many” of the early humans’ flints were highly polished; most of them not being highly polished is compatible with the argument.
Illusory inconsistency
Illusory inconsistency
Answer is attractive because it seems to (but doesn't actually) contradict the premises or conclusion.
b
The caves in █████ ███ ██████ ████████ ██████ ████ █████ ███ █████████ ██ ████ ██████████
This does not affect the argument. A lack of cave paintings does not undermine the idea that early humans possessed an aesthetic sense—perhaps they appreciated the aesthetics of highly polished flints but did not care for the aesthetics of cave paintings.
Illusory inconsistency
Illusory inconsistency
Answer is attractive because it seems to (but doesn't actually) contradict the premises or conclusion.
c
There is evidence ████ █████ ██████ ████████ ██████ ████ ████ ███ ███████ ██ █████████ ███████████
This strengthens the argument. If the purpose of the highly polished flints was for display in religious ceremonies, early humans must have had an aesthetic sense that motivated them to polish the flints for this purpose.
Failed alternate explanation
Failed alternate explanation
Weaken Qs: Answers that try to introduce an alternate explanation, but fall short, or try to explain a different phenomenon.
Strengthen Qs: Answers that try to eliminate an alternate explanation, but fall short, or try to eliminate an explanation for a different phenomenon.
d
Flints were often ████ ██ █████ ██████ ███ ████████ ██████ █████ ████ ████████
This weakens the argument by offering an alternative explanation for the described phenomenon. The highly polished flints—while not necessary for hunting—could have been used in everyday chores. This explanation gives no reason to suggest that early humans had an aesthetic sense.
Alternate explanation
Alternate explanation
Weaken: Introduce or support an alternate explanation for a phenomenon.
Strengthen: Helps to eliminate an alternate explanation for a phenomenon.
e
Any benefits that ██ █████████ █████ █████ ████ █████ ██ █████████████ ██████ ███ ██████ ███████████
This does not affect the argument. Our poor understanding of the benefits early humans could have derived from an aesthetic sense does not undermine the assertion that they may nevertheless have possessed an aesthetic sense.