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abhi75
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:33 pm    Post subject: GMAT CR Reply with quote

Each year red-winged blackbirds stop in a certain region of Midland Province on their spring and fall migrations. In the fall, they eat a significant portion of the province’s sunflower crop. This year Midland farmers sought permits to set out small amounts of poisoned rice during the blackbirds’ spring stop in order to reduce the fall blackbird
population. Some residents voiced concern that the rice could threaten certain species of rare migratory birds. Nevertheless, the wildlife agency approved the permits.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to justify the wildlife agency’s approval of the permits, given the concerns voiced by some residents?
A. In the region where the red-winged blackbirds stop, they are the first birds to be present in the spring.
B. The poison that farmers want to use does not kill birds but rather makes them incapable of producing viable eggs.
C. Since rice is not raised in Midland Province, few species of birds native to the province normally eat rice.
D. Without the permit, any farmers shown to have set out poison for the blackbirds would be heavily fined.
E. The poison that farmers got approval to use has no taste or smell that would make it detectable by birds.
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Stuart Kovinsky
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:49 pm    Post subject: Re: GMAT CR Reply with quote

abhi75 wrote:
Each year red-winged blackbirds stop in a certain region of Midland Province on their spring and fall migrations. In the fall, they eat a significant portion of the province’s sunflower crop. This year Midland farmers sought permits to set out small amounts of poisoned rice during the blackbirds’ spring stop in order to reduce the fall blackbird
population. Some residents voiced concern that the rice could threaten certain species of rare migratory birds. Nevertheless, the wildlife agency approved the permits.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to justify the wildlife agency’s approval of the permits, given the concerns voiced by some residents?
A. In the region where the red-winged blackbirds stop, they are the first birds to be present in the spring.
B. The poison that farmers want to use does not kill birds but rather makes them incapable of producing viable eggs.
C. Since rice is not raised in Midland Province, few species of birds native to the province normally eat rice.
D. Without the permit, any farmers shown to have set out poison for the blackbirds would be heavily fined.
E. The poison that farmers got approval to use has no taste or smell that would make it detectable by birds.


A strengthener with a twist: we have to take an objection into account.

Our prediction: an answer that suggests that the rare species will NOT be harmed by the poison.

Only (a) gives us any reason to believe that the poison will keep the blackbirds under control but won't hurt other species. If the blackbirds get there first, then we postulate that either:

- the blackbirds eat all the poisoned rice, so other birds aren't affected; or

- once the blackbirds are gone, the farmers can remove the poisoned rice, so other birds aren't affected.

Remember: "strengthen" is NOT synonomous with "prove". (a) certainly doesn't prove that other birds won't be affected, but it gives us a reason to believe that they won't be.

(b) through (e) don't distinguish between blackbirds and other birds, so they're all outside the scope.

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abhi75
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PostPosted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Stuart you're right on the money. The OA is A. I again missed this and choose B.

I think the best way to approach strengthen/weaken question is to get the unstated assumption and look for something similar in answer choice and justify that choice.

Thanks again. You have been a great help.

abhi.
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