Kaplan again

[reply2spg]

What does the question mean. I believe that it is trying to ask about the strengthen the argument, or find the link that would help why the new change is accepted.

What is wrong with A

The Laysan Rail, an insectivore bird once present on several of the Hawaiian Islands, can no longer be found and is thought to be extinct. Scientists originally thought that a decrease in the amount of ground vegetation available for nesting was responsible for the decline of the bird. However, they now believe that increase competition for food was ultimately responsible for the Layson Rail's inability to survive.

Which of the following would best help to account for the change in the accepted explanation for the Laysan Rail's extinction?

(A) The vegetation on the Laysan Rail's home island was decimated when rabbits were introduced to the island in the 1910s.
(B) When attempts were made to relocate the Laysan Rail to other islands, the birds lost the geographical cues that they relied on for fijnding mating sites.
(C) The Laysan Rail builds nests under dense ground cover to protect the eggs.
(D) An increase in the use of pesticides resulted in a decrease in the numbers of flies and moths present in the Laysan Rail's territory.
(E) Many species nested in the same types of vegetation as the Laysan Rail.


OA D

[FightWithGMAT]

What does the question mean. I believe that it is trying to ask about the strengthen the argument, or find the link that would help why the new change is accepted.

What is wrong with A

The Laysan Rail, an insectivore bird once present on several of the Hawaiian Islands, can no longer be found and is thought to be extinct. Scientists originally thought that a decrease in the amount of ground vegetation available for nesting was responsible for the decline of the bird. However, they now believe that increase competition for food was ultimately responsible for the Layson Rail's inability to survive.

Which of the following would best help to account for the change in the accepted explanation for the Laysan Rail's extinction?

(A) The vegetation on the Laysan Rail's home island was decimated when rabbits were introduced to the island in the 1910s.
(B) When attempts were made to relocate the Laysan Rail to other islands, the birds lost the geographical cues that they relied on for fijnding mating sites.
(C) The Laysan Rail builds nests under dense ground cover to protect the eggs.
(D) An increase in the use of pesticides resulted in a decrease in the numbers of flies and moths present in the Laysan Rail's territory.
(E) Many species nested in the same types of vegetation as the Laysan Rail.


OA D

Can't Kaplan throw decent questions, less convoluted

Anyways.... A is not explaining both the discoveries in the argument. A only tells about the lack of vegetation on the islands. But it does not explain about the second finding that competition for food may be the cause of decline in the population. I was confused between D and E. both seem to address the two findings in the argument.

But D does better.
D says:

Increase in pesticide----> more vegetation
Few flies and Moths-----> less food for Laysan Rail

So, even though we have more vegetation, we have less food. This makes the author believe that it is not the less vegetation but less food that is the cause of RAIL's population decline.

[saketk]

What does the question mean. I believe that it is trying to ask about the strengthen the argument, or find the link that would help why the new change is accepted.

What is wrong with A

The Laysan Rail, an insectivore bird once present on several of the Hawaiian Islands, can no longer be found and is thought to be extinct. Scientists originally thought that a decrease in the amount of ground vegetation available for nesting was responsible for the decline of the bird. However, they now believe that increase competition for food was ultimately responsible for the Layson Rail's inability to survive.

Which of the following would best help to account for the change in the accepted explanation for the Laysan Rail's extinction?

(A) The vegetation on the Laysan Rail's home island was decimated when rabbits were introduced to the island in the 1910s.
(B) When attempts were made to relocate the Laysan Rail to other islands, the birds lost the geographical cues that they relied on for fijnding mating sites.
(C) The Laysan Rail builds nests under dense ground cover to protect the eggs.
(D) An increase in the use of pesticides resulted in a decrease in the numbers of flies and moths present in the Laysan Rail's territory.
(E) Many species nested in the same types of vegetation as the Laysan Rail.


OA D

A is talking about vegetation rather than the bird's food. This is out of the contention straightaway.

D is the right choice because it tells us that the competition between the birds increased due to scarcity of the food (insects) -- I agree that we have to assume that those bird's were heavily dependent on insects.

E is also talking about vegetation .. and I think you figured out that B is irrelevant for this question.. and C does the opposite.. strengthens the argument..


PS: I just saw that your target GMAT score is 801.. How is this possible ? Max is 800

[GmatKiss]

What does the question mean. I believe that it is trying to ask about the strengthen the argument, or find the link that would help why the new change is accepted.

What is wrong with A

The Laysan Rail, an insectivore bird once present on several of the Hawaiian Islands, can no longer be found and is thought to be extinct. Scientists originally thought that a decrease in the amount of ground vegetation available for nesting was responsible for the decline of the bird. However, they now believe that increase competition for food was ultimately responsible for the Layson Rail's inability to survive.

Which of the following would best help to account for the change in the accepted explanation for the Laysan Rail's extinction?

(A) The vegetation on the Laysan Rail's home island was decimated when rabbits were introduced to the island in the 1910s.
(B) When attempts were made to relocate the Laysan Rail to other islands, the birds lost the geographical cues that they relied on for fijnding mating sites.
(C) The Laysan Rail builds nests under dense ground cover to protect the eggs.
(D) An increase in the use of pesticides resulted in a decrease in the numbers of flies and moths present in the Laysan Rail's territory.
(E) Many species nested in the same types of vegetation as the Laysan Rail.


OA D

A is talking about vegetation rather than the bird's food. This is out of the contention straightaway.

D is the right choice because it tells us that the competition between the birds increased due to scarcity of the food (insects) -- I agree that we have to assume that those bird's were heavily dependent on insects.

E is also talking about vegetation .. and I think you figured out that B is irrelevant for this question.. and C does the opposite.. strengthens the argument..


PS: I just saw that your target GMAT score is 801.. How is this possible ? Max is 800

Hi,

Why should we assume that this particluar bird feed on insects? and
why should'nt we assume that the decline in vegetation be the reason for the extinction?
Further D, does not hint us anything about competition!! It simply says that insects count has come down!

Please correct me.

TIA,
GK

[navami]

this a explain/ resolve type question.

I agree with what GMATKISS has said. But seems like if POE is applied D suits the best among the worse choices

[saketk]

@gk: if I were you, I would have also asked the same question. But, we are talking about birds here
Isn't it obvious that they will feed on insects rather than vegetables, say wheat?