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Capuchin monkeys often rub their bodies with a certain type [#permalink]
 09 Sep 2004, 12:19
Question Stats:
33% (02:58) correct
66% (02:48) wrong based on 2 sessions
Capuchin monkeys often rub their bodies with a certain type of millipede. Laboratory tests show that secretions from the bodies of these millipedes are rich in two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate capuchins. Some scientists hypothesize that the monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes because doing so helps protect them from mosquitoes.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the scientists’ hypothesis?
A. A single millipede often gets passed around among several capuchins, all of whom rub their bodies with it.
B. The two chemicals that repel mosquitoes also repel several other varieties of insects.
C. The capuchins rarely rub their bodies with the millipedes except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak.
D. Although the capuchins eat several species of insects, they do not eat the type of millipede they use to rub their bodies.
E. The two insect-repelling chemicals in the secretions of the millipedes are carcinogenic for humans but do not appear to be carcinogenic for capuchins.
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Director
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D. reasons...
A - refers to single millipede being passed on, while the stimulus refers to secretions from multiple millipedes. So out.
B - If it repels other insects then the conclusion of the experiment that proves it only against mosquitoes is loosing strength. So out.
C - Close enough, but the stimulus says that capuchins rub 'often'. So out.
D- They are saving it for the specific purpose.
E - out of scope
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I will go with C. It says that they do it only in rainy season when the mosquitoes proliferate. This is sufficient to say that they know they need some protection.
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My choice is C. I think D is a bit more pulling than really needed.
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I will go with D.
The assumption is that monkeys in fact realize the importance of the millipede. D states this assumption most clearly. C is a close choice but it, in a way, undermines the importance of the millipede.
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I go with C
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I am for C.
Relate the logic with the conclusion; the only reason why monkeys rub theri bodies with millipedes is to get rid of mosquitoes. They dont' rub/or rarely rub when there are no mosquitoes.
D -- they might eat millipedes after rubbing with them... yikes
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1 min. C it is and agree with dj's explanation
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Would also choose (C)
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My first choice was C. However, I went to D because the stimulus says that Capuchins 'often' rub 'certain type of a milipede' - whiel C says that they do it rarely.
Also Only D has a referrant to 'certain type of millipede' - all others generalise it as millipedes. Else the question is too straightforward.
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The OA given is E. Can anyone think of how E can support the scientist's hypothesis. I thought it was a clear C.
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There is no support whatsoever for E. The OA must be wrong and I'm sure C must be it
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I am getting it as E.
A - ruled out but very funny answer. Monkeys keep passing one to another - hard to imagine too!!
B - 'other insects' new word and out of scope.
C - Protection from mosquitoes is required 'in general' not in rainy season or some other reason. Out of scope. For that matter, during rainy season, they can go somewhere else too to protect themselves from mosquitoes!! The stem does not support this at all.
D - 'eat' and 'rub' tough to correlate.
E - perfect!! They rub and if the secretions are carcenogenic, then they die and rather than protect themselves, they kill themselves in the process. The argument clealy falls apart, if we negate this. Thus, E is chosen.
Do correct me if I am wrong.
mba4me wrote: Capuchin monkeys often rub their bodies with a certain type of millipede. Laboratory tests show that secretions from the bodies of these millipedes are rich in two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate capuchins. Some scientists hypothesize that the monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes because doing so helps protect them from mosquitoes.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the scientists’ hypothesis?
A. A single millipede often gets passed around among several capuchins, all of whom rub their bodies with it.
B. The two chemicals that repel mosquitoes also repel several other varieties of insects.
C. The capuchins rarely rub their bodies with the millipedes except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak.
D. Although the capuchins eat several species of insects, they do not eat the type of millipede they use to rub their bodies.
E. The two insect-repelling chemicals in the secretions of the millipedes are carcinogenic for humans but do not appear to be carcinogenic for capuchins.
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Hi mallelac, 2 things I want to address in your analysis:
E) Yes, the chemicals are not carcinogenic and the monkeys would not die by rubbing the millepedes against themselves but does it address the question of how the rubbing will protect the monkeys against mosquitos? An assumption would what would explain how the rubbing would protect them against mosquitos? C does the job nicely by saying that monkeys rub the millepedes specifically during times there are a lot of mosquitos. This reinforces the idea that the millepedes protect them against mosquitos during those "peak seasons" --> conclusion: millepede rubbing DOES protect monkeys against mosquitos
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Hi Paul,
Somehow, I could not digest the analysis.
After reading the stem, the conclusion is the hyposthesis that monkeys rub millipedes to protect themselves.
If we have to support the hypothesis, we need to prove that it does not affect in other ways. E does it.
I feel C is extraneous becuase of 'rainy season'. What about summer season/winter season? I need to assume too many hereto make C as the answer. Thus, E is a clear choice, I believe. Were E not there, C would be the only choice.
Thus, I prefer E to C because the stem does not talk about peak seasons or weak seasons. Is mosquito biting okay during weak seasons? I donot think so.
Paul wrote: Hi mallelac, 2 things I want to address in your analysis:
E) Yes, the chemicals are not carcinogenic and the monkeys would not die by rubbing the millepedes against themselves but does it address the question of how the rubbing will protect the monkeys against mosquitos? An assumption would what would explain how the rubbing would protect them against mosquitos? C does the job nicely by saying that monkeys rub the millepedes specifically during times there are a lot of mosquitos. This reinforces the idea that the millepedes protect them against mosquitos during those "peak seasons" --> conclusion: millepede rubbing DOES protect monkeys against mosquitos
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Awaiting response,
Thnx & Rgds,
Chandra
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I had chosen C as my answer, till I read the OA.
I can hardly see any connect of E with the question stem.
Even if I try to retrofit the answer, I'm probably going beyond the scope.
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Tough one. I marked D but none other than E supports somehow the argument.
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my pick is (C).
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IMHO, C.
I don't agree with E as OA.
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IMO C.... E cannot be the answer, as the question stem talks about debitation, and the option discusses about Carcinogens. We cannot assume that carciongens is the ONLY cause behing debilitation.This goes too far in assumption. However Option C states that yet the other chemical causes debilitation, still the monkeys are using it. It justifies the use during peak mosquito period. It would be nice to hear other explanations... 
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