#14 - Scientist: A controversy in paleontology centers on

[Amber Thomas]

Hi Thomas!

Let's take a look at answer choice E: "many of the earliest sophisticated tools did not require their users to be able to stand upright."

The stimulus only discusses the creation of the tools, not the use. Just because you don't have to be able to stand to USE the tools doesn't mean you don't have to be able to stand to MAKE the tools.

With respect to answer choice B, a weapon can absolutely be a tool. Answer choice B tells us that there were advanced, man made objects used for hunting among human ancestors that did not stand upright. This indicates that man was able to craft sophisticated tools prior to being able to stand.

I hope this helps!

[pandapaws]

Had answer choice D said "those prehistoric human ancestors who first came to stand upright had no more free use of their hands than did those who did not stand upright," would it still not weaken the argument since the premises still establish that standing upright makes the use of free hands possible regardless of whether not standing upright does this too?

[Luke Haqq]

Hi pandapaws!

If I understand your rephrase of answer choice (D) correctly, yes, even with that rewording it doesn't seem to weaken the argument.