Biologist:
Some speculate that the unusually high frequency of small goats found in island populations is a response to evolutionary pressure to increase the number of goats so as to ensure a diverse gene pool. However, only the reproductive success of a trait influences its frequency in a population. So, the only kind of evolutionary pressure that can reduce the average size of the members of a goat population is that resulting from small goats achieving greater reproductive success than their larger cousins.

The biologist's view, if true, provides the most support for which one of the following?
A. The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool could have the effect of increasing the frequency of a gene for small size.

B. The unusual frequency of small goats in island populations is not a result of the greater reproductive success small goats possess when space is limited.

C. Contrary to what some believe, large goats achieve greater reproductive success than small goates even when space is limited.

D. The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool does not have the effect of increasing the frequency of a gene for small size.

E. A diverse gene pool cnanot be achieved in a goat ppulation unless the average size of its members is reduced.

I think it's A and will try to formulate the thinking process, if it's correct.
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Searching for an answer...

Biologist says:
Only the reproductive success of a trait influences the frequency of a specie in a population
Conclusion: Only reason why smaller goats become more numerous is because they have better reproductive traits than larger goats, and NOT because of evolutionary pressure.

Answer should be D
A) This is totally opposite to what the biologist claims
B) Again, biologist says that it IS because of better reproductive traits
C) This is what the biologist believe. The majority believe that smaller goats size is because of evolutionary pressure
D) Exactly what the biologist claims
E) cannot be concluded by the given information
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Best Regards,

Paul

Ok, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The paragraph contains a belief and an alternative opinion.

The belief is that evolutionary pressure to increase the number of goats so as to ensure a diverse gene pool (EP) has caused the unusually high frequency of small goats in island populations (F).

EP -> F.

The alternative opinion is that the reproductive success of a trait (RS) is the only pressure that influences its frequency (F). In other words it contradicts the previous statement.

RS -> F.

The author puts forth that the reason there are so many small goats in island populations is that this trait is predominant.

A tells us that EP -> RS. Nope.
B says that NOT RS -> F. Nope.
C – “say again?â€