11th OG Page, 347 Question 5

airan · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: 11th OG Page, 347 Question 5

he passage supports which of the following inferences about breeding among Lycaon pictus?
(A) The largest female in the social group does not maintain reproductive status by means of behavioral control.
(B) An individual’s ability to breed is related primarily to its rate of growth.
(C) Breeding is the only task performed by the breeding female.
(D) Breeding in the social group is not cooperative. (E)
(E) Breeding is not dominated by a single pair of dogs.

OA is E, but the passage text says

jaspire · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

If you read the sentence you quoted, it says that ly. pictus are NOT dominated by a pair of breeders.Hence only E makes sense.

Also by process of elimination, A,B,C,D do not contain any information on
ly. pictus. So it leaves you only with E!

Jason11 · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:18 am Post subject:

The official answer explains it with the same way. Even though I read the quote carefully, I still can't see that relation. From my side:

most cooperatively breeding vertebrates are dominated by a pair of breeders.

But using the word "except"; all I understand is that "the wild dog, Lycaon pictus are not dominated by a pair of breeders."

The OA also tells that " The wild dog is mentioned as an exception to the rule that most cooperatively breeding vertebrates... are dominated by a pair of breeders rather than by a single breeding female. It is reasonable to infer that breeding among these wild dogs is not dominated by a pair of breeders."

But the answer is the reverse. Can anyone elaborate it?

gwendolinecn · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:58 pm Post subject:

I made the same "mistake" as described by all of you. I selected E. I felt depressed with the mistakes because I thought there should not be so many mistakes with this passage.
Anyone likes to share your opinions?