Question

A marine scientist concluded that the Canary Islands were not formed by volcanic activity because his data showed that the fault on which the islands lies was inactive during the islands' formation. Another scientist disagrees with his measurements and provides data showing that the fault was active at that time. How does this disagreement contribute to the scientific process?
A. Scientific reliability is increased when the same experiment yields different results.
B. Scientific logic is made more rigorous by conflicting data collected by different groups.
C. Scientific hypotheses are disproved when two scientists come to different conclusions.
D. Scientific claims are strengthened by evaluating different possible arguments.

Answer 1

The answer is: D. Scientific claims are strengthened by evaluating different possible arguments.

Argument is a series of statements used to persuade someone of something or to present reasons for accepting a conclusion (in this example, Canary Islands were not formed by volcanic activity and  the fault was active at that time).

Evaluate means to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something, it this example two different arguments about Canary Islands formation,

The Canary Islands (seven major islands, one minor island) were originally volcanic islands, formed by the Canary hotspot.