Wolves can double their numbers every year: BTG PQ

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Wolves can double their numbers every year. They do not do so, however, if the area in which they live is already full and the territory of each pack borders on the territory of other packs on all sides. Lone wolves, unable to establish a territory near their place of origin, disperse to a less desirable habitat and often are hunted by people.


Which of the following conclusions may be properly drawn from the information in the passage above?

a. The number of wolves in any area suitable for wolves may be predicted to quadruple in two years.
b. Wolves are ejected from the pack to wander singly as lone wolves when the number of wolves in the pack has doubled.
c. The amount of territory suitable for wolves has been diminishing in recent years as a result of human encroachment, d. with a resulting diminution in the wolf population.
d. Wolf hunting can continue at a moderate rate on the fringes of a good habitat for wolves without a decrease in the average yearly wolf population in that territory.
e. The wolf population density in a given area of wolf territory does not vary with the yearly rate of wolf reproduction.

Didn't get it right, please let me know your take on the answers.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by kvcpk » Sat Sep 11, 2010 5:04 am
Tough one. Will go with E.
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by ov25 » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:20 am
I'd go with D.

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by debmalya_dutta » Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:57 am
Another vote for D .... because there will be lone wolves who are "excesses" :) to the healthy wolf habitat.. Go ahead an hunt them down!!!
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by gmat1011 » Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:58 am
agree - tough one but I think its E.

We have two independent events described here --- (a) ability to reproduce and double their numbers when certain favorable conditions are present; (b) tendency to wander when lonely and getting killed

There doesn't seem to be any correlation bw the 2 events; so: wolf population density (impacted by lone wolves wandering) in a given area of wolf territory does not vary with the yearly rate of wolf reproduction (impacted by reproduction).

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by kamalsinghy » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:10 am
IMO D.

I am rejecting E because the stimulus did not talk about the yearly reproduction of wolf.

Stimulus: packed territory+ wolves out of territory killed by people; this premised is include in option D.

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by The Jock » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:24 am
The OA is D here.
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by DanaJ » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:30 am

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by gmat1011 » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:35 am
can anyone explain how the inability of lone wolves "to establish a territory near their place of origin" is connected to the disinclination of wolves to reproduce if "if the area in which they live is already full and the territory of each pack borders on the territory of other packs on all sides"

There may be some link which may explain why certain wolves end up lonely cause they cant double their numbers?

What does the OA say re D --- what is a "good habitat" for wolves - is it "an area in which they live is already full and the territory of each pack borders on the territory of other packs on all sides" --- that's not clear - can someone explain how D covers the relevant premises here?