Logical reasoning PrepTest 117 · Section 3 · Question 12

Incorrect. The definition of navigation doesn't say anything about the animal taking a direct route home, so this answer doesn't undermine the evidence.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Weaken

Stimulus Summary:
Navigation — Finding your way home from unfamiliar territory that's far enough away you can't sense home
Example — Polar bears that return home from 500km away

Answer Anticipation:
This argument provides a very detailed and technical definition of what "navigation" is and then it brings up an example that some claim count as navigation. Since this question is asking us to cast doubt on the evidence supporting the example we need to understand what does count as good evidence and how the provided evidence falls outside of it.

Navigation has a few parts that would need to be established in the polar bear example. First the bear would need to find its way home—which it did. Second the bear would have to have been dropped off in unfamiliar territory far enough away that home is no longer in its immediate senses. The bear was dropped off 500km away so presumably that's outside of how far it can see/hear/smell (though an answer suggesting that it can smell "home" from that far could weaken it). However there was no indication that the area it was dropped off at was one that it was unfamiliar with. Any answer suggesting the polar bear knew the area that it was released in will weaken the evidence here.

Answer Explanation:
If the site was on the polar bear's migration route then the polar bear was familiar with the area. As such the definition of navigation doesn't apply and the evidence no longer shows that polar bears can navigate. This answer is therefore correct.

Key Takeaway:
A definition is very similar to a principle or a conditional—it establishes criteria that need to be matched in order to apply to a situation. When a definition with multiple parts is provided start thinking about it similar to questions that feature conditional logic/principles.

Incorrect. The definition of navigation doesn't discuss the type of terrain at all, so this answer doesn't have an effect on the evidence.

Incorrect. How many animals can navigate is immaterial to whether a certain animal has that capability.

Incorrect. This answer is close to being relevant! However an "extreme sensitivity to smell" doesn't guarantee they can smell from 500km away. Without tying the polar bears's sense of smell to smelling from that far away this answer can't undermine the evidence.