Critical Reasoning

Marine biologists have long thought that variation in the shell color of aquatic snails evolved as a protective camouflage against birds and other predators. Brown shells seem to be more frequent when the underlying seafloor is dark-colored and white shells more frequent when the underlying seafloor is light-colored. A new theory has been advanced, however, that claims that shell color is related to physiological stress associated with heat absorption. According to this theory, brown shells will be more prevalent in areas where the wave action of the sea is great and thus heat absorption from the Sun is minimized, whereas white shells will be more numerous in calmer waters where the snails will absorb more heat from the Sun’s rays.
Evidence that would strongly favor the new theory over the traditional theory would be the discovery of a large majority of
(A) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators
(B) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom
(C) light-shelled snails in an inlet with much wave action and a dark, rocky bottom
(D) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators
(E) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom and many predators

Could you please explain your answer with reasoning as I have a doubt when sun rays hit the calm ocean then the bottom of the ocean wouldn't be darker?

Is it D?

The answer should refute the traditional theory and support the new
theory.

Only D remains

so it should be dark or white, can you explain this?

According to this theory, brown shells will be more prevalent in areas where the wave action of the sea is great and thus heat absorption from the Sun is minimized, whereas white shells will be more numerous in calmer waters where the snails will absorb more heat from the Sun’s rays.


The Color will be dependent on the wave action according to the new theory so a dark bottom can have light shells if the waves are calm and vice-versa.

nauman wrote:Marine biologists have long thought that variation in the shell color of aquatic snails evolved as a protective camouflage against birds and other predators. Brown shells seem to be more frequent when the underlying seafloor is dark-colored and white shells more frequent when the underlying seafloor is light-colored. A new theory has been advanced, however, that claims that shell color is related to physiological stress associated with heat absorption. According to this theory, brown shells will be more prevalent in areas where the wave action of the sea is great and thus heat absorption from the Sun is minimized, whereas white shells will be more numerous in calmer waters where the snails will absorb more heat from the Sun’s rays.
Evidence that would strongly favor the new theory over the traditional theory would be the discovery of a large majority of
(A) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators
(B) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom
(C) light-shelled snails in an inlet with much wave action and a dark, rocky bottom
(D) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators
(E) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom and many predators

Could you please explain your answer with reasoning as I have a doubt when sun rays hit the calm ocean then the bottom of the ocean wouldn't be darker?

Answer is E because it satisfies the result of the new theory and old theory. I am saying the result not the logic. in other words if you look at choice E it says light color with while sand it means camoflouge against the predators and also they will absorb more sun

Just to confirm -
(D) supports the new theory and refutes the old theory
(E) supports the new theory as well as the old theory.

So (D) is the one that more strongly supports new theory over the old?

Please let me know if my understanding here is correct.

Thanks!

It should be D.
First lets look at what the new theory says:brown shells will be more prevalent in areas where the wave action of the sea is great and thus heat absorption from the Sun is minimized, whereas white shells will be more numerous in calmer waters where the snails will absorb more heat from the Sun’s rays.
So to support the new theory D says light-shelled snails in a calm inlet
Now lets look at what the old theory suggested:Brown shells seem to be more frequent when the underlying seafloor is dark-colored and white shells more frequent when the underlying seafloor is light-colored
So to refute the old theory D says a dark, rocky bottom and many predators

I hope it makes sense.

Thanks!

g_beatthegmat wrote:Just to confirm -
(D) supports the new theory and refutes the old theory
(E) supports the new theory as well as the old theory.

So (D) is the one that more strongly supports new theory over the old?

Please let me know if my understanding here is correct.

Thanks!

You are 100% correct.

so ru sayin tht preferring 1 thing over 2nd means refuting the 2nd?

shipra wrote:so ru sayin tht preferring 1 thing over 2nd means refuting the 2nd?

This question specifically asks us to "strongly favor the new theory over the traditional theory".

The best way to show that 1 theory is better than another is to give evidence that the first theory is correct AND that the second is incorrect.

D hands down

D seems to be the best choice here