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#33381
Complete Question Explanation

Main Point. The correct answer choice is (E)

The author holds that deep-sea creatures may be able to detect red light, because of a recent discovery involving one such creature with red lights on its tentacles. The main conclusion can be found in the first sentence: “… but they need to reassess that view,” referring to scientists’ belief that deep-sea creature cannot detect light. This conclusion is then supported by several observations made in the second and third sentences. When reworded, the stimulus has the following structure:

Scientists’ view:
  • No deep-sea creature can detect red light.
Author’s counterargument:
  • Premise: ..... A newly discovered deep-sea creature has bioluminescent red lights on some of its tentacles.

    Premise: ..... The red lights probably function as lures to attract prey.

    Conclusion: ..... The scientists need to reassess the view that deep-sea creatures cannot detect red light.
As with many Main Point questions, the main conclusion here is not in the last sentence. Also, the argument structure is more complex than usual, as the first sentence introduces a viewpoint that is subsequently rejected (it is typical for such viewpoints to be introduced by words such as “people,” “critics,” “researchers,” “others,” etc.). It is key to identify the conclusion of the author’s argument before examining the answer choices.

Answer choice (A): This statement is likely to be true according to the third sentence of the stimulus, but it is not the conclusion of the argument.

Answer choice (B): As with answer choice (A), this statement is likely to be true based on the information contained in the third sentence of the stimulus. The conclusion, however, is to be found in the first sentence, not in the third.

Answer choice (C): Since the recent discovery of a deep-sea creature prompted the author to reassess the scientists’ belief, the discovery functions as a premise for the author’s conclusion.

Answer choice (D): This answer choice summarizes the scientists’ belief, which is not the main conclusion of the author’s argument.

Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice, as it restates the conclusion in the first sentence of the stimulus: “… but they [i.e. scientists] need to reassess [i.e. reconsider] that view [i.e. the belief that deep-sea creatures cannot detect red light].”

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