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- Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:50 pm
#23576
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (B)
The author of this stimulus presents the following facts: poor climate conditions can leave members of larger species’ unable to find food. Since smaller species can support larger populations on less food, the author explains, they are less vulnerable than larger species to extinction caused by poor climate. Since the author makes no real argument and draws no conclusions, we should not be surprised to find that this stimulus is followed by a Must Be True question. Hence we should apply the Fact Test; that is, the correct answer choice must be verifiable based on information provided in the stimulus. Answer choices which may be true, or are likely to be true, are incorrect unless specifically supported by the facts provided.
Answer choice (A): The author makes no claim that specific food needs are the main determining factor, so this answer choice is unsupported by the facts of the stimulus and thus incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. We learned from the stimulus that smaller species are less vulnerable to extinction from dwindling food supplies based on their lesser needs. Further, the author opens the stimulus with a discussion of the needs of members of larger species, so it must be that such vulnerability depends, “at least in part,” on how much food individuals of that species must consume to survive.
Answer choice (C): This specific conditional rule is unsupported by the stimulus. The author does not assert that larger animals will be the first to go, which is, in basic terms, the claim found in this incorrect answer choice.
Answer choice (D): Like incorrect answer choice (A), this claim is too bold to be supported by this stimulus. The author does not assert that the survival of each individual depends primarily on that individuals’ food needs. Rather, the stimulus provides, the survival of a species in the face of challenging climate conditions depends at least in part on individual food needs.
Answer choice (E): The conditional rule offered by this answer choice is completely unsupported by the facts of the stimulus. Since the author provides no logical basis for the assertion that large species extinction will lead to guaranteed supplies for smaller species, this answer choice should be eliminated.
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (B)
The author of this stimulus presents the following facts: poor climate conditions can leave members of larger species’ unable to find food. Since smaller species can support larger populations on less food, the author explains, they are less vulnerable than larger species to extinction caused by poor climate. Since the author makes no real argument and draws no conclusions, we should not be surprised to find that this stimulus is followed by a Must Be True question. Hence we should apply the Fact Test; that is, the correct answer choice must be verifiable based on information provided in the stimulus. Answer choices which may be true, or are likely to be true, are incorrect unless specifically supported by the facts provided.
Answer choice (A): The author makes no claim that specific food needs are the main determining factor, so this answer choice is unsupported by the facts of the stimulus and thus incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. We learned from the stimulus that smaller species are less vulnerable to extinction from dwindling food supplies based on their lesser needs. Further, the author opens the stimulus with a discussion of the needs of members of larger species, so it must be that such vulnerability depends, “at least in part,” on how much food individuals of that species must consume to survive.
Answer choice (C): This specific conditional rule is unsupported by the stimulus. The author does not assert that larger animals will be the first to go, which is, in basic terms, the claim found in this incorrect answer choice.
Answer choice (D): Like incorrect answer choice (A), this claim is too bold to be supported by this stimulus. The author does not assert that the survival of each individual depends primarily on that individuals’ food needs. Rather, the stimulus provides, the survival of a species in the face of challenging climate conditions depends at least in part on individual food needs.
Answer choice (E): The conditional rule offered by this answer choice is completely unsupported by the facts of the stimulus. Since the author provides no logical basis for the assertion that large species extinction will lead to guaranteed supplies for smaller species, this answer choice should be eliminated.