Reading Comprehension

I can eliminate the 4 wrong answers, but I cannot find any relevant evidence on the passage to support the OA.
Any idea???

Careful observers of wildlife along unspoiled freshwater shorelines in New england may encounter the river otter (Lutra Canadensis) or its close cousin, the mink (Mustela Vison). Like other members of the Mustelidae, or "weasel" family, these animals have elongated bodies with long tails and are efficient hunters. On land, they commonly employ the 2-2 bounding gait characteristics of Mustelidae, but as the only semi- aquatic members of the family in the northeast, they are also accomplished swimmers. Both sprot rich, dark fur insulating them from the wet and cold.
Despite such similarities, however, the otter and mink are readily distinguished by sight. The otter is almost twice as long as the mink and may boast ten times of the weight of the smaller animal. THe rudder-like tail of the otter is markedly heavy-set, tapering only gradually, while that of the mink is gracile. Other, less obvious, differences exist. For example, the otter subsists largely on fish and occasional small mammals, whereas the mink prefers rodents, especially the aquatic muskrat. Similarly, although both animals give birth in the spring, the mink mates in midwinter; the otter mates in spring immediately folloing the birth, taking advantage of a curious adaptation, delayed implantation of the fertilized egg until the following year. Such variations reflect the fact that even "cousins" traverse different evalutionary pathways.

The passage suggests that Mustela Vison
A. is a less important member of Mustelidae than lutra canadensis
B. consumes smaller pray than Lutra candensis
C. may be disturbed by the impact of human activity on the environment
d. has evolved delayed implantation of fertilized eggs
e. is the most gracile of the Mustelidae

OA: C

Hi yuliawati,

This is definitely a tricky one. However, take a look at that very first sentence--"Careful observers along unspoiled freshwater shorelines...". This suggests that spoiled coastlines--ones impacted by human settlement--might not be home to these mustelids.

Hope this helps!

Eli

KapTeacherEli wrote:Hi yuliawati,

This is definitely a tricky one. However, take a look at that very first sentence--"Careful observers along unspoiled freshwater shorelines...". This suggests that spoiled coastlines--ones impacted by human settlement--might not be home to these mustelids.

Hope this helps!

Eli

Hi Eli,

Why isnt option D an answer choice?

pls explain.

Thanks
karthik

Thanks Eli, it does make sense. I missed the point.
D isnt the correct answer because the passage states that "the otter mates (not the mink)....., delayed implantation of the fertilized egg".

yuliawati wrote:Thanks Eli, it does make sense. I missed the point.
D isnt the correct answer because the passage states that "the otter mates (not the mink)....., delayed implantation of the fertilized egg".

Thanks

To be frank all 5 options seem to be bad for me...
I was left with C as it was ...may be less bad

A)There is no such indication:Out of scope
B)the otter subsists largely on fish and occasional small mammals, whereas the mink prefers rodents, especially the aquatic muskrat.
There is nothing about size of prey.
and we dont know size of aquatic muskrat as well.
(we can provide logic for it if we start digging reasons for it... occasional small means most of the time it feeds on large preys and where as shows contradiction...)

C.seems to be good,not because of first line but because other options are poor
Careful observers of wildlife along unspoiled freshwater shorelines.....
Does it prove or means that people will harm it?I think correct answer needs to be better than that.

D.Opposite

E.One word wrong or extreme....most...

descriptive passages are not typical of gmat passages. The trick of gmat is not like this trick. Study of this passages and question is not good for gmat.

Is this a Kaplan CAT Question