Seemingly inconsequential changes in sea temperature due to global warming eventually result in declines in fish and ...
SavannahrrobertsonFebruary 11, 2022
Broad Language
I was stuck between C and E for the following reasons:
- Answer choice C satisfies the role of the statement but the phrase "larger sea animals" confused me because the stimulus only states "fish and seabird populations" nothing about "larger" sea animals & the answer choice does not mention anything about seabirds.
Answer choice E satisfies the role in terms of that it does offer support of the statement/question stem because "rest of the food chain" could also be assumed the author is referring to the overall main food chain where humans sit at the top and that would pose a threat "all organisms." I chose this answer because the statement about the zooplankton does offer support of the idea that global warming poses a threat to all organisms or aka "rest of the food chain"
Do you have any tips on clarifying broad language?
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On Argument Structure questions (and other argument-description questions, like Main Point, Methods of Reasoning, and Errors in Reasoning questions), we shouldn’t be afraid to select an answer choice that uses more general or broad language than the passage — as long as a few criteria are met. First, the broad language must include the topic discussed in the argument. Second, the broad language cannot misdescribe anything in the argument.
I think (C) and (E) illustrate why that second point is so important. “Larger sea animals” in (C) includes “fish and seabird populations” (since fish and seabirds are certainly larger than plankton). It also doesn’t misdescribe what the conclusion is referring to — fish and seabirds are, by definition, sea animals. “All organisms” in (E) includes “fish and seabird populations.” However, “all organisms” changes the meaning of “fish and seabird populations.” “Fish and seabird populations” only represent some organisms — there are plenty of organisms that are not fish or seabirds, and the author never asserts that other organisms are affected by global warming. If (E) said “It is offered in support of the idea that global warming poses a threat to some organisms” it would be a better answer choice (although it would still omit the fact that global warming has an indirect effect on certain species).
