#11 - Must Be True, Author's Perspective

[brcibake]

I was trying to decide between A and B but ultimately choose B. They both seem correct to me. What makes A stronger than B?
Thank you

[Eric Ockert]

Answer choice (A) is discussed by both authors here. Author A mentions "serious reductions in waterfowl" in Line 11 while author B mentions the canvasback as "endangered by purple loosestrife" in Lines 53-55. These would prove that the two authors agree that "some" populations tend to decrease.

Author A mentions the "disastrous effect" of purple loosestrife in Lines 5-6. So it is clear that author A would agree with answer choice (B). However, author B never really mentions any actual disastrous effect. Without a doubt, author B would agree that others believe its effects are disastrous. However, at no point does author B commit to any kind of agreement with that belief.

[cjtoon]

Why is D incorrect? Is it because the passage(s) don't explicitly touch on it being a 'blunder?' Or because 'blunder' is an incorrect way to describe the introduction of the invasive weed?

[Jeff Wren]

Hi cjtoon,

The easiest way to eliminate Answer D is that neither passage explicitly mentions "blunder" or anything similar to that idea. While Passage A does mention the introduction to purple loosestrife to North America, it is really only mentioned to provide background information/context rather than to blame the settlers for the problems of the purple loosestrife invasion. While the author of Passage A certainly believes that the effects of the purple loosestrife invasion have been "disastrous" (line 6), there is no indication in the passage that the settlers committed "an extreme blunder." Perhaps the arrival of the purple loosestrife was purely accidental or, even if it was brought intentionally, perhaps there was no obvious reason to foresee what would happen?

Passage B doesn't even discuss the introduction to purple loosestrife to North America, and the author of Passage B doesn't even necessarily agree that the purple loosestrife has necessarily been a negative change to the environment.