Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author hypothesizes that a lake stickleback’s having a larger size is a better defense against its predators than having armor. This is based on the fact that ocean stickleback have armor for protection, whereas lake stickleback have almost no armor. In addition, armor limits the speed of a stickleback’s growth.
Notable Assumptions
The author assumes that lake stickleback are larger than ocean stickleback. In addition, the author assumes that the need to protect from its predators is the reason lake stickleback are larger and lack armor.
A
Sticklebacks with armor are unable to swim as fast, making them most vulnerable to fast-moving predators.
This is a disadvantage of having armor. This doesn’t undermine the author’s hypothesis, because it’s possible lake predators are fast-moving, making armor less effective against them.
B
Having a larger size is an important factor in whether lake stickleback, but not ocean stickleback, survive cold winters.
This raises a potential alternate explanation for the lake stickleback’s larger size. The author thinks the larger size must have something to do with protection from predators. But it might instead be due to the need for surviving cold winters.
C
Unlike ocean stickleback, the lake stickleback are more often preyed upon by predatory insects than by larger fish.
This doesn’t undermine the author’s hypothesis, unless you make the unwarranted assumption that a larger size wouldn’t be necessary or more effective at deterring insect predators. We have no reason to think a larger size is better defense than armor only against larger fish.
D
Both ocean stickleback and lake stickleback feed primarily on the same types of foods.
This concerns the diet of each stickleback. This has no clear relationship to lake sticklebacks’ larger size or lack of armor.
E
Sticklebacks originated in the ocean but began populating freshwater lakes and streams following the last ice age.
This relates to the origin of sticklebacks. This has no clear relationship to lake sticklebacks’ larger size or lack of armor.
Summary
The author concludes that if ad agencies gear their ads mainly to older adults, then they can maximize their clients’ profits. This is based on the fact that older adults control most of this nation’s disposable income.
Missing Connection
We have no compelling reason to believe that targeting older adults will maximize profits. Sure, older adults may control most of the nation’s disposable income. But that doesn’t imply that ads targeted toward them will get them to spend more money than ads targeted toward other groups.
To make the argument valid, we want to establish the following relationship:
If ad agencies target their ads toward a group of people who control most of this nation’s personal disposable income, that will maximize their clients’ profits.
To make the argument valid, we want to establish the following relationship:
If ad agencies target their ads toward a group of people who control most of this nation’s personal disposable income, that will maximize their clients’ profits.
A
Older people generally have larger incomes and have had longer to accumulate resources than younger people.
This might explain why older people control most of this nation’s personal disposable income. But (A) doesn’t establish that targeting ads toward this group of people will maximize profits. Older people might not spend as much in response to ads compared to other groups of people.
B
No company can maximize its profits unless it markets its products primarily to a population segment that controls most of this nation’s personal disposable income.
(B) establishes that if a company does NOT market its products toward a population that controls most of the disposable income, then a company will NOT maximize its profits. But we’re trying to establish that if a company DOES gear its ads toward a population that controls most disposable income, that it CAN maximize its profits.
C
Advertising that is directed toward the wealthiest people is the most effective means for a business to improve the reputation of its products.
(C) can establish that a particular advertising strategy would do the best to “improve the reputation” of a company’s products. But this doesn’t establish what can maximize profits.
D
No advertising agency that tailors its advertisements mainly to an audience that does not control much of this nation’s personal disposable income will maximize its clients’ profits.
(D) establishes that if you tailor your ads to people who don’t control a lot of disposable income, you won’t maximize clients’ profits. But we’re trying to establish companies CAN maximize profits by targeting a certain group.
E
Any advertising agency that gears its advertisements mainly to a population segment that controls 50 percent or more of this nation’s personal disposable income will maximize its clients’ profits.
Older adults control more than 50% of the nation’s disposable income (because they control more than does the rest of the population combined). (E) establishes that gearing ads toward this group of people will maximize profits.