Would appreciate a little help on the following question:
Thanks in advance
Target Test Prep is 20% off right now!
Use code FLASH20
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
GMAT Practice exam 2 -
This topic has expert replies
-
DavidG@VeritasPrep
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 2663
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:25 am
- Location: Boston, MA
- Thanked: 1153 times
- Followed by:128 members
- GMAT Score:770
Conclusion: Seasonal variation in group size is due to difference in mortality rates of young voles.lucas211 wrote:Hello BTG
Would appreciate a little help on the following question:
The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year around, and a group of voles living together consists primarily of an extended family, often including two or more litters. Voles commonly live in large groups from late autumn to winter; from spring thru early autumn, however, most voles live in far smaller groups. The seasonal variation in groups size can probably be explained by a seasonal variation in mortality among young voles.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the explanation above?
A) It is the spring and in the early summer that prairie vole communities generally contain the highest proportion of young voles.
B) Prairie vole populations vary dramatically in size from year to year.
C) The prairie vole subsists primarily on broad-leaved plants that are abundant only in spring.
D) Winters in prairie vole's habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing.
E) Snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, or active only from spring thru early autumn.
Thanks in advance
Premise: Groups larger from autumn to winter; groups smaller from spring to autumn
Well, if the groups are smaller from spring to autumn, then the argument is positing that something, during these months, is causing young voles to die at a higher rate than during autumn - winter. So we're looking for something that might cause young voles to die in higher numbers during spring to autumn. This is precisely what E gives us. If snakes are active from spring to autumn, it stands to reason that more young voles are getting eaten during these months than during the months when the snakes are not active.
-
OptimusPrep
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 3:36 am
- Location: Worldwide
- Thanked: 120 times
- Followed by:8 members
- GMAT Score:770
Premise: The voles are in abundance from autumn to winter, but are very few in number from spring through autumn. This is explained because of the mortality in your voles.lucas211 wrote:Hello BTG
Would appreciate a little help on the following question:
The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year around, and a group of voles living together consists primarily of an extended family, often including two or more litters. Voles commonly live in large groups from late autumn to winter; from spring thru early autumn, however, most voles live in far smaller groups. The seasonal variation in groups size can probably be explained by a seasonal variation in mortality among young voles.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the explanation above?
A) It is the spring and in the early summer that prairie vole communities generally contain the highest proportion of young voles.
B) Prairie vole populations vary dramatically in size from year to year.
C) The prairie vole subsists primarily on broad-leaved plants that are abundant only in spring.
D) Winters in prairie vole's habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing.
E) Snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, or active only from spring thru early autumn.
Thanks in advance
To support the reason given, we need to find something that justifies the mortality of the young voles.
Of the given option, option E tells us just the same. It gives us a reason why the young voles do not survive. because they are hunted by the snakes.
Correct option: E
