- Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:00 am
#35057
Complete Question Explanation
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
Your task in this Paradox question is to select the answer choice that provides an active resolution to
the apparent discrepancy presented in the stimulus.
This stimulus is quite generous, expressly stating the apparent paradox. Even though the area’s
strong ocean currents probably carry baby shrimp between the different reefs, which would allow for
the shrimp populations to interbreed and become genetically indistinguishable, the populations of a
shrimp species at eleven different coral reefs show substantial genetic differences from one reef to
another.
The correct answer choice will provide information that causes this surprising situation to occur, i.e.,
that causes the shrimp species to have substantial genetic differences despite the area’s strong ocean
currents. The incorrect answers will not provide an active resolution the apparent paradox, either
because they merely support one side, attack one side, or are irrelevant to the conclusion.
Answer choice (A): This information merely supports the fact that the shrimp populations are
genetically different, though their respective differences are less than between the shrimp and other
marine species.
Answer choice (B): This choice is irrelevant to the paradox, because it refers to individual shrimp
within a given population, while the paradox was concerned with genetic differences between shrimp
belonging to distinct coral reefs.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This choice helps to resolve the paradox
by showing that although the strong ocean currents may carry the baby shrimp between reef
populations, the shrimp return to the coral reef at which they were hatched before breeding. This
migration would reduce the possibility that the species would interbreed.
Answer choice (D): This choice merely supports the fact that the shrimp migrate from the reefs at
which they are hatched.
Answer choice (E): This choice attacks the idea the that currents carry the shrimp between the reefs,
stating instead that the shrimp are carried out into the open ocean.
Resolve the Paradox. The correct answer choice is (C)
Your task in this Paradox question is to select the answer choice that provides an active resolution to
the apparent discrepancy presented in the stimulus.
This stimulus is quite generous, expressly stating the apparent paradox. Even though the area’s
strong ocean currents probably carry baby shrimp between the different reefs, which would allow for
the shrimp populations to interbreed and become genetically indistinguishable, the populations of a
shrimp species at eleven different coral reefs show substantial genetic differences from one reef to
another.
The correct answer choice will provide information that causes this surprising situation to occur, i.e.,
that causes the shrimp species to have substantial genetic differences despite the area’s strong ocean
currents. The incorrect answers will not provide an active resolution the apparent paradox, either
because they merely support one side, attack one side, or are irrelevant to the conclusion.
Answer choice (A): This information merely supports the fact that the shrimp populations are
genetically different, though their respective differences are less than between the shrimp and other
marine species.
Answer choice (B): This choice is irrelevant to the paradox, because it refers to individual shrimp
within a given population, while the paradox was concerned with genetic differences between shrimp
belonging to distinct coral reefs.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This choice helps to resolve the paradox
by showing that although the strong ocean currents may carry the baby shrimp between reef
populations, the shrimp return to the coral reef at which they were hatched before breeding. This
migration would reduce the possibility that the species would interbreed.
Answer choice (D): This choice merely supports the fact that the shrimp migrate from the reefs at
which they are hatched.
Answer choice (E): This choice attacks the idea the that currents carry the shrimp between the reefs,
stating instead that the shrimp are carried out into the open ocean.