#7 - All zebras have stripes, and the most widespread

[Rachael Wilkenfeld]

Hi lsatquestions,

You are reading into the answer choice something it doesn't say. You can't add or subtract from the answer choice---you have to take it as it's given. You are adding that the stripes signal the better health of the zebras, drawing a connection not made by the answer choice. Answer choice (D) makes that connection explicitly between the stripes and the communication. It's showing that when the cause occurs (stripes) the effect occurs (communication).

Hope that helps!

[cnbauer]

Hello!
So I wanted to double check my understanding of why I got this answer wrong-
I initially chose answer (A) because I thought that best-defined stripes would signal to other zebras about that zebra's suitability as a mate (similar to how in other animals impressive feathers and the like is a way of attracting mates). It provides an example that proves that the stripes serve as a signal for potential mates.

So this is way off. Because:
1. size and vigor can probably speak for themselves without needing another signal
2. if all of the members of the subspecies have pronounced stripes, then to assume that this is a signal to other zebras is to perhaps assume that the zebras are interbreeding with other subspecies of zebras?
3. the author made, as a precursor to their conclusion, that the stripes could not be for camouflage and therefore the best answer probably has to do, in part, with camouflage.

Either way, reading over 1 and 2 make me sound like a nutjob lol so how do you have any advice for how not to go off the rails when choosing an answer choice? I do significantly worse on Strengthen questions than any other type that I've drilled thus far, and many times it's for a similar reason as this. Thanks in advance!

[Amber Thomas]

Hi cnbauer!

Your reasons for ruling out Answer Choice A are all valid. I think the key things to focus on with this question is that we are trying to support our conclusion that "[stripes] must serve as some sort of signal for other zebras." Therefore, our Answer Choice needs to strictly pertain to the concepts of both signaling within the Zebra species, and stripes. Containing yourself to the parameters set by the stimulus can help keep you from going astray and overthinking answer choices that don't contain all of the relevant information.

I hope this helps!