Hey Guys, not the quietest question by far...
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ticks. Generally, deer ticks pick up the bacterium while in the larval stage by feeding on infected white-footed mice. However, certain other species on which the larvae feed do not harbor the bacterium. If the population of these other species were increased, more of the larvae would be feeding on uninfected hosts, so the number of ticks acquiring the bacterium would likely decline.
Which of the following would it be most important to ascertain in evaluating the argument?
"¢whether populations of other species on which deer tick larvae feed are found only in areas also inhabited by white-footed mice.
"¢whether the size of the deer tick population is currently limited by the availability of animal for the ticks' larval stage to feed on.
"¢whether the infected deer tick populations could be controlled by increasing the number of animals that prey on white-footed mice.
"¢whether deer ticks that were not infected as larvae can become infected as adults by feeding on deer on which infected deer ticks have fed
"¢whether the other species on which deer tick larvae feed harbor any other bacteria that sticks transmit to humans
I can easily discard options; 1,3 and 4. But I don't see why argument 2 is stronger than 5. Any advice?
Many thanks
Lukas
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ticks. Generally, deer ticks pick up the bacterium while in the larval stage by feeding on infected white-footed mice. However, certain other species on which the larvae feed do not harbor the bacterium. If the population of these other species were increased, more of the larvae would be feeding on uninfected hosts, so the number of ticks acquiring the bacterium would likely decline.
Which of the following would it be most important to ascertain in evaluating the argument?
"¢whether populations of other species on which deer tick larvae feed are found only in areas also inhabited by white-footed mice.
"¢whether the size of the deer tick population is currently limited by the availability of animal for the ticks' larval stage to feed on.
"¢whether the infected deer tick populations could be controlled by increasing the number of animals that prey on white-footed mice.
"¢whether deer ticks that were not infected as larvae can become infected as adults by feeding on deer on which infected deer ticks have fed
"¢whether the other species on which deer tick larvae feed harbor any other bacteria that sticks transmit to humans
I can easily discard options; 1,3 and 4. But I don't see why argument 2 is stronger than 5. Any advice?
Many thanks
Lukas
