Alligator

[jeevan.Gk]

In the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people killed by alligators in Florida. During this same time, there has been an increase in the development of new houses, golf courses, and shopping areas in former wilderness areas within the state. Therefore, the increase in fatal alligator attacks must have been caused by the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator’s habitat.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the explanation above?

a. Two years ago, a government initiative to reduce the alligator population size by destroying alligator eggs ended.

b. An increase in fatal alligator attacks tends to make people more cautious around lakes, ponds, swamps and canals.

c. The number of people killed by snake bites, spider bites and scorpion stings in Florida has held steady for many years.

d. Many of the new state residents have moved to newly constructed areas near water that is suitable for habitation by alligators.

e. The undeveloped areas of Florida have decreased in area by 5% in the past year.

[delhiboy1979]

Option C, since if the reasoning given was correct there would have been an increase in deaths from other wil creatures as well (they too are part of the wilderness).

[matterover]

A)
Effect:
Increased alligator attacks / population.
Cause
The reason attributed for increased attacks is increase in human population .
Weaken :
Find the alternate factors that can lead to same Effect.
Once we find that there can be multiple cause leading to same effect, the argument is weakend.
alternate Cause :
a ) What if the alligator population is itself breeding more due to some reasons
b) What if the initiative to kill the alligator eggs ended previously, hence those eggs are now hatched leading to increase in alligator population.
Hence the Answer A.

[HouseBrand]

In my opinion it is C using PoE.

@matterover
A) This strenghten the arguement and does not weaken it. When the government does not destroy the eggs anymore, it is normal that the population of alligators will increase and that there might be more attacks.

What is OA. I'm still can't decide between B and C....

[matterover]

You mentioned it right that if the eggs are not killed then it is natural for the population of alligators to increase.

Now, this increase in alligator population is leading to the more killings .

Let us say..initially -- 100 ppl 10 killings 1 alligator.
later -- 200 pppl 20 killings 1 alligator..
so more killings because of more ppl is what the arguement is aiming at..

Alternate Cause is..
initially --- 100 ppl 10 killings 1 alligator.
later -- 100 ppl, 50 killings 50 alligators.. --
Hence this calls the argument in question concerning increase in the human population. i.e not necessary that the maximum killings be attributed to the increase in human population, instead killings could be attributed to increase in alligator population ..

[Musicolo]

In the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people k!IIed by alligators in Florida. During this same time, there has been an increase in the development of new houses, golf courses, and shopping areas in former wilderness areas within the state. Therefore, the increase in fatal alligator attacks must have been caused by the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator’s habitat.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the explanation above?

a. Two years ago, a government initiative to reduce the alligator population size by destroying alligator eggs ended.

b. An increase in fatal alligator attacks tends to make people more cautious around lakes, ponds, swamps and canals.

c. The number of people k!IIed by snake bites, spider bites and scorpion stings in Florida has held steady for many years.

d. Many of the new state residents have moved to newly constructed areas near water that is suitable for habitation by alligators.

e. The undeveloped areas of Florida have decreased in area by 5% in the past year.

I think it is A and it does not weaken the argument as someone claimed. The argument is that because people moved to the alligators' area, the number of alligators attacks increased. The statement which weakens the argument is statement A. Because the government initiative to destroy alligators' eggs ended, this led to increase in number of alligators, hence, increase in number of attacks.
I honestly don't see how C could be answer since the snake bites, spider bites and scorpion stings are not mentioned anywhere.
I would also not consider B since does not call into question the original statement.
What is OA please?
Dino

[bmlaud]

A)
Effect:
Increased alligator attacks / population.
Cause
The reason attributed for increased attacks is increase in human population .
Weaken :
Find the alternate factors that can lead to same Effect.
Once we find that there can be multiple cause leading to same effect, the argument is weakend.
alternate Cause :
a ) What if the alligator population is itself breeding more due to some reasons
b) What if the initiative to kill the alligator eggs ended previously, hence those eggs are now hatched leading to increase in alligator population.
Hence the Answer A.

I agree, it should be A

Good catch Matterover

[iwant700plus]

I also get A. What's the OA?

[quocbao]

I think it's A too

b. An increase in fatal alligator attacks tends to make people more cautious around lakes, ponds, swamps and canals.

People are moving to place near the alligator nest right ? If they are more cautious they won't move near by. So It could not be the answer.

c. The number of people k!IIed by snake bites, spider bites and scorpion stings in Florida has held steady for many years.

Not related, we're talking about death of alligator

d. Many of the new state residents have moved to newly constructed areas near water that is suitable for habitation by alligators.

It actually strengthen the topic when show the fact that more people move to alligators' habitation areas

e. The undeveloped areas of Florida have decreased in area by 5% in the past year.

Not related.


I hope i'm right

[welcome]

IMO E.
What is OA.

[hk]

I would go with A..

Here is my reasoning. When the project for reducing the population ended people normally assume that the population of alligators is under control. So it calls in to question about the argument that the increase in fatal alligator attacks must have been caused by the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator’s habitat

[Nailya]

Its A! Alternative reason to cause same effect - killing by alligators.

C is irrelevant because the argument only talks about the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator’s habitat.

Otherwise it would be worth considering.

[senthil]

I will go for C . Wats the OA ????????????????

[jeevan.Gk]

Oa is A ..

Thank you guys

[mason77]

In my opinion A is the most logical one.