Monkeys

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Monkeys

by eitijan » Sat May 14, 2016 12:52 am
OA D

Please comment and help me to understand why option E is incorrect?
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by OptimusPrep » Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:55 am
eitijan wrote:OA D

Capuchin monkeys in Venezuela often rub a certain type of millepede into their fur. Secretions of these millipedes have been shown to contain two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate the capuchins. The rubbing behavior is rare except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak. Therefore monkeys probably rub millipedes into their fur only because doing so helps protect them against mosquitoes.

Which of the following would be most useful to determine in order to evaluate the argument.

A) Whether the two chemicals provide any protection for millipedes against their own repellents.
B) Whether the type of millipede used by the capuchin monkeys in Venezuela is found in other parts of the world.
C) Whether animals other than capuchins rub insects of any kind into their fur
D) Whether the only time millipedes are readily available to capuchins is during rainy season
E) Whether secretions of any other insects accessible to capuchins contain chemicals that repel the mosquitoes

Please comment and help me to understand why option E is incorrect?
Capuchins rub millipedes that secrete mosquito repellants.
Rubbing happens in rainy season when mosquitos are high in number

Conclusion: Hence rubbing is done to protect against mosquitos.
We need to evaluate this conclusion.

Of the given options, only D talks about an alternate reason of rubbing of millipedes.
Option E talks about some other way in which the capuchins can ward of insects. Great, now they have two ways. But this does not hinder the capuchins from using millipedes as well. Hence this is out of scope.

Correct Option: D