PrepTest 93+, Section 2, Question 20
The olecranon process is a bony part of the mammalian elbow. The shorter the olecranon process, the faster the forelimbs can typically be moved. Predatory mammals must move their forelimbs very quickly when attacking prey, and thus generally have short olecranon processes. It has recently been found that the extinct mammal Megatherium had a short olecranon process. Hence, in all probability, Megatherium was a predator.
The olecranon process is a bony part of the mammalian elbow. The shorter the olecranon process, the faster the forelimbs can typically be moved. Predatory mammals must move their forelimbs very quickly when attacking prey, and thus generally have short olecranon processes. It has recently been found that the extinct mammal Megatherium had a short olecranon process. Hence, in all probability, Megatherium was a predator.
The olecranon process is a bony part of the mammalian elbow. The shorter the olecranon process, the faster the forelimbs can typically be moved. Predatory mammals must move their forelimbs very quickly when attacking prey, and thus generally have short olecranon processes. It has recently been found that the extinct mammal Megatherium had a short olecranon process. Hence, in all probability, Megatherium was a predator.
The olecranon process is a bony part of the mammalian elbow. The shorter the olecranon process, the faster the forelimbs can typically be moved. Predatory mammals must move their forelimbs very quickly when attacking prey, and thus generally have short olecranon processes. It has recently been found that the extinct mammal Megatherium had a short olecranon process. Hence, in all probability, Megatherium was a predator.
The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
It fails to address the possibility that most mammals with short olecranon processes have not been predators.
It takes for granted that the only reason predators need to move their forelimbs quickly is to attack prey.
It overlooks the possibility that Megatherium could have been a successful predator even if it did not have a short olecranon process.
It takes for granted that, on average, the olecranon processes of extinct mammals were no shorter than those of living mammals are.
It fails to address the possibility that a longer olecranon process may confer some other advantage, such as greater strength.
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