Question

those that favored the flat earth theory made the following observations: - the earth is stable because it is a flat landmass sandwiched between a flat layer of air and a flat layer of water. - if the earth is spherical, then oceans should be curved on top, but they arent. - some rivers flow for hundreds of miles but only fall a few feet. the rivers should fall farther if the earth is spherical. - if the earth is spherical, people and animals that inhabit the earth would notice as they walked along its surface. - since manners are able to use flat compasses to navigate their ships without crashing, the earth must not be a sphere. those that disputed the flat earth theory countered the claim by observing that christopher columbus was able to sail around the earth without falling off the edge and later, by presenting satellite imagery taken from space of a spherical earth. this example demonstrates that a. it is easy to resolve a scientific argument b. it is not possible to settle a dispute c. argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry d. scientific knowledge is unattainable

Explanation:

• Option A: Resolving the flat - Earth argument wasn't easy (it took evidence like Columbus' voyage and satellite imagery), so A is wrong.
• Option B: The dispute was settled (with evidence against flat - Earth), so B is wrong.
• Option C: The flat - Earth proponents argued with their observations, and opponents countered with evidence. This shows argumentation (presenting reasons/evidence) is part of scientific inquiry to test ideas.
• Option D: Scientific knowledge (like Earth's shape) is attainable (via evidence), so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry