Elephants!

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Elephants!

by zagcollins » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:00 pm
Which of the following most logically completes the argument below?
The expansion of large-scale farming in Africa and Asia has destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended, forcing them to turn to cultivated land to satisfy their enormous appetites. As a result, farmers have lost millions of dollars worth of crops annually. Yet even if elephant sanctuaries were created on a widespread basis to guarantee elephants sufficient natural vegetation, the raiding would likely persist, since

A. when elephants forage for food, they typically travel in herds.
B. Foraging elephants have been known to cause substantial damage even to plants that they do not eat.
C. Some of the land where crops have suffered extensive damage from elephants has been allowed to return to its natural state.
D. Elephants tend to prefer cultivated crops to wild vegetation as a food source.
E. Elephant sanctuaries are usually created in areas that are rich in the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by raunekk » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:37 pm
IMO:E

OA??

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by zagcollins » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:04 pm
OA is D...can you pls clarify the assumption on which the argument lies?

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by raunekk » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:25 pm
I doubt..

Cause the stimulus says ... "has destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended"

That means they were originally not dependent on Cultivated land.

They turn to cultivated land only when Natural vegetation doesnt suffice.

Now when they are "guaranteed sufficient natural vegetation"
the only reason they can turn to cultivated land is they cannot differenciate between "sanctuaries " and " cultivated land."

As according to the stimulus both( "sanctuaries " and " cultivated land)are "in Africa and Asia where much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended is destroyed.


May i know the source pls

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by gmattestprep » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:54 am
I think D is the right answer.

We need to pick an answer choice that says why elephants would prefer crops over sanctuaries that have wild vegetation.


E is the exact opposite of what we are looking for and states that elephants have been historically dependent on vegetation found in sanctuaries, implying that elephants would prefer it over crops.

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by raunekk » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:19 am
gmattestprep,

Can you please explain how E is opposite..

Stimulus:farming destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended

Means-
Elephant used to depend on natural vegetation and they were forced to move towards cultivated land due to lack of food ,as natural vegetation was ruined.

It means they didnt prefer Cultivated land but were diverted towards it due to dearth of natural vegetation

If this is the thing then...D seems opposite.

Please explain..

thank you

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by gmattestprep » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:37 am
Do you agree that the only sensible choice that will complete this sentence ".., the raiding would likely persist, since .." must show that elephants will "still" prefer crops to wild vegetation?

Yes I agree by the use of the word "force" the implied sense is that elephants preferred wild vegetation to crops and D goes against this statement. But let's say E is true would the elephants be forced to move to crops?

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by raunekk » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:47 am
hmmm u got a point...

But E says...

"
Elephant sanctuaries are usually created in areas that are rich in the natural vegetation
"

I am confused because of the word "much"..

In my opinion..

stimulus says not all of the natural vegetation was destroyed.. and "Elephant sanctuaries" are made in remaining vegetation...as elephants have been historically dependent on natural vegetation

According to the stimulus,"large-scale farming" will also be amidst or near natural vegetation...(The expansion of large-scale farming in Africa and Asia has destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants )

Arent there chances that elephants will attack "farming" as it is also in or near natural vegetation...??

:)

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by gmattestprep » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:17 am
I see your point. :)

But if you say that the sanctuaries are created on what remains of the wild vegetation then this negates the point mentioned in the stimulus that sanctuaries will provide sufficient food.

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by NSNguyen » Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:15 am
Hi raunekk,
The expansion of large-scale farming in Africa and Asia has destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended

This means that in present elephant may be depend mostly on cultivated crop.

the raiding would likely persist, since

The raiding here is elephant raiding to cultivated crop

that why D is suitable for OA
Please share your idea and your reasoning :D
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by reachac » Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:32 pm
@raunekk

I think ur point is valid but I fee E is negated the lines in the stimulus
Yet even if elephant sanctuaries were created on a widespread basis to guarantee elephants sufficient natural vegetation, the raiding would likely persist, since
I feel widespread is the focus word here

Thoughts??

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by ssgmatter » Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:47 pm
Can anyone please explain why D is the OA as nothing is mentioned about the wild vegetation in the argument....On the contrary i found D to be the close one as it says that since elephants prefer cultivated crop that means that the raiding would likely to persist....

Please help me understand my logic

Regards,
Phil

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by ssgmatter » Mon May 17, 2010 9:07 am
Any thoughts guys??
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Amit

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by ssgmatter » Mon May 17, 2010 10:03 am
zagcollins wrote:Which of the following most logically completes the argument below?
The expansion of large-scale farming in Africa and Asia has destroyed much of the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended, forcing them to turn to cultivated land to satisfy their enormous appetites. As a result, farmers have lost millions of dollars worth of crops annually. Yet even if elephant sanctuaries were created on a widespread basis to guarantee elephants sufficient natural vegetation, the raiding would likely persist, since

A. when elephants forage for food, they typically travel in herds.
B. Foraging elephants have been known to cause substantial damage even to plants that they do not eat.
C. Some of the land where crops have suffered extensive damage from elephants has been allowed to return to its natural state.
D. Elephants tend to prefer cultivated crops to wild vegetation as a food source.
E. Elephant sanctuaries are usually created in areas that are rich in the natural vegetation on which elephants have historically depended.
I believe that option D should be the correct one for this one. However, on the other side I feel that option D is poorly worded. I mean instead of saying wild vegetation it should use Natural vegetation.

Do I make sense?

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks!
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Amit

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by ssgmatter » Tue May 18, 2010 5:24 am
anyone
Best-
Amit