Rabbits were introduced to Tambor Island in the nineteenth century. Overgrazing by the enormous rabbit population now menaces the island's agriculture. The government proposes to reduce the population by using a virus that has caused devastating epidemics in rabbit populations elsewhere. There is, however, a small chance that the virus will infect the bilby, an endangered native herbivore. The government's plan, therefore, may serve the interests of agriculture but will clearly increase the threat to native wildlife.
The argument above assumes which of the following?
A) There is less chance that the virus will infect domestic animals on Tambor than that it will infect wild animals of species native to the island.
B) Overgrazing by rabbits does not pose the most significant current threat to the bilby.
C) There is at least one alternative means of reducing the rabbit population that would not involve any threat to the bilby.
D) There are no species of animals on the island that prey on the rabbits.
E) The virus that the government proposes to use has been successfully used elsewhere to control populations of rabbits.
What's the best approach to determine the answer? Can any experts help?
The argument above assumes which of the following?
A) There is less chance that the virus will infect domestic animals on Tambor than that it will infect wild animals of species native to the island.
B) Overgrazing by rabbits does not pose the most significant current threat to the bilby.
C) There is at least one alternative means of reducing the rabbit population that would not involve any threat to the bilby.
D) There are no species of animals on the island that prey on the rabbits.
E) The virus that the government proposes to use has been successfully used elsewhere to control populations of rabbits.
What's the best approach to determine the answer? Can any experts help?
