1. A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a  given animal population for long, since there is enough  genetic variation in populations that some members will  lack the trait. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully for the available resources. Hence  these members of the population survive and reproduce  at a higher rate, crowding out those with the maladaptive trait.

The proposition that those lacking a maladaptive trait  will compete more successfully for the available  resources figures in the argument in which one of the  following ways?

A. It expresses a view that the argument as a whole  is designed to discredit.

B. It is the argument’s main conclusion. C. It is a premise of the argument. (Correct Answer)D. It presents evidence that the argument attempts 

to undermine. E. It is an intermediate conclusion of the argument.

Solving the Problem:

Step 1- Isolating the conclusion from the supporting premises:

An argument proceeds from premises to a conclusion. The conclusion will be the statement in support of which the premises are given.

What is the argument saying? What is the conclusion? In figuring out what the conclusion is, lets determine what question is being answered. The question being answered throughout is “Will a maladaptive trait disappear in a population? If so, why? Phrased as a statement of fact, it becomes:

“A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given animal population for long”

The argument goes about explaining why that is.

How do we get there?

1: Restructuring the Argument:A: “there is enough  genetic variation in populations that some members will  lack maladaptive trait”

B: If some lack (A) , then (B) “. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully for the available resources.

QED C: Therefore, (intermediate conclusion) (C): these members of the population survive and reproduce  at a higher rate”

QED D: Therefore (2nd Intermediate conclusion) (D): Those who reproduce at a higher rate will succed in “crowding out those with the maladaptive trait”

If those with the maladaptive trait will be crowded out, we can say “A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given animal population for long”

In other words:

(A) There is enough  genetic variation in populations that some members will  lack the [given maladaptive] trait.

(B) Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully for the available resources.

Hence (C) [intermediate conclusion]:

 (a) these members of the population survive and reproduce  at a higher rate,

Leading to a resulting secondary intermediate conclusion: ( (a) causes (b) )

(b) crowding out those with the maladaptive trait.

Based on the foregoing, the argument concludes with

(D) [Conclusion]: A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a  given animal population for long.