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Support the argument

by sam2304 » Sat Oct 15, 2011 2:21 am
The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year-round, 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 through winter; from spring through early autumn, however, most voles live in far smaller groups. The seasonal variation in group 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 offered?

a. it is in the spring and 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 the prairie voles' habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing.
e. snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, are active only from spring through early autumn.

Please explain.
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by mir.yahya » Sat Oct 15, 2011 2:38 am
IMO : E

Option E IMO supports the mortality point. Lets see what the experts have to say.
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by parul9 » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:53 am
sam2304 wrote:The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year-round, 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 through winter; from spring through early autumn, however, most voles live in far smaller groups. The seasonal variation in group 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 offered?

a. it is in the spring and 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 the prairie voles' habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing.
e. snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, are active only from spring through early autumn.

Please explain.
According to he passage, the group of voles is large from late autumn to winter and small from spring to autumn.
Also the passage states: "The seasonal variation in group size can probably be explained by a seasonal variation in mortality among young voles"
So, that means the mortality rate is low from autumn to winter compared to from spring to autumn.

Lets look at the options now:

a. it is in the spring and early summer that prairie vole communities generally contain the highest proportion of young voles. -- This would mean greater population in spring. Which is not what the passage says.
b. prairie vole populations vary dramatically in size from year to year -- Irrelevant
c. the prairie vole subsists primarily on broad-leaved plants that are abundant only in spring.-- This would mean greater population in spring. Which is not what the passage says.
d. winters in the prairie voles' habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing. -- This would mean lower population in winter. Which is not what the passage says.
e. snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, are active only from spring through early autumn.
This explains the lower population from spring to winter

So, IMO, the answer should be E.
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