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Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the [#permalink]
 01 Feb 2008, 00:06
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Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and also less successful than they themselves are a year later. This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength, since blackbirds, like the great majority of birds, are fully grown when they leave the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience. Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument? (A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds. (B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction. (C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time. (D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds. (E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest. Can somebody explain the correct answer pls
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 12:46
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E .. by POE
A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds. not relevant, as to how better they can build than others
(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction.capacity to lay eggs is not important here, its the experience of nesting
(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time.this will strengthen it, its already there in the argument
(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds.strengthens the argument, as it talks of stronger black birds .. still need experience in nesting
(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 13:39
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I think it is B since it proves that it is not nesting that is a factor in successful breeding but the capacity of the blackbirds to lay viable eggs that increases with time.
E has no releavance to either nesting or breeding.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 13:44
I go with B also by POE.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 13:48
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This is the last sentence of the argument, which is also the conclusion. "It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience."
To weaken it we have to prove that the more they do it the better they get at it, which is in fact answer B.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 14:01
BLearning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and also less successful than they themselves are a year later. This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength, since blackbirds, like the great majority of birds, are fully grown when they leave the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience. Assumption: There is no other cause resulting in more success in breeding for older birds.Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument? (A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds. - irrelevant.(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction. - break our assumption(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time. - paraphrasing of the evidence.(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds. - paraphrasing of the evidence.(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest. - irrelevant.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 18:20
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I would second B as well. Coz here its trying to prove that its some other factor which is important and not nesting. Whats OA ?
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 18:46
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neelabhmahesh wrote: Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and also less successful than they themselves are a year later. This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength, since blackbirds, like the great majority of birds, are fully grown when they leave the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience.
Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?
(A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds.
(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction.
(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time.
(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds.
(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest.
Can somebody explain the correct answer pls (B)
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 19:14
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neelabhmahesh wrote: Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and also less successful than they themselves are a year later. This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength, since blackbirds, like the great majority of birds, are fully grown when they leave the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience.
Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?
(A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds.
(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction.
(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time.
(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds.
(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest.
Can somebody explain the correct answer pls Is OA D? I think A, B and E are irrelevant. C is strengthen the argument. I cannot explain why D is the best choice, but I pick it after eliminating the rest. However, it is said "This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength", thus, I think D is relevant to the answer. Is it right?
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
01 Feb 2008, 19:40
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neelabhmahesh wrote: Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. For example, Dr. Snow has recorded the success of a number of blackbirds in several successive years. He finds that birds nesting for the first time are less successful in breeding than are older birds, and also less successful than they themselves are a year later. This cannot be a mere matter of size and strength, since blackbirds, like the great majority of birds, are fully grown when they leave the nest. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience.
Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument?
(A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds.
(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction.
(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time.
(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds.
(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest.
Can somebody explain the correct answer pls For me E should be the OA! Let see: Blackbird can not be a representative of birds in general. So anything true for Blackbird is not neccessarily true for the other kinds of bird. Blackbird: if success in nesting, then success in breeding. Other birds(E says)were killed before breeding. Thats why they are not more succeeful in breeding than Blackbird.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
02 Feb 2008, 20:54
Seems to be B. This is a tough one.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
03 Feb 2008, 16:56
Conclusion: Learning how to build a nest plays an important part in the breeding success of birds. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that they benefit by their nesting experience.
In order to weaken the argument, introduce answer choice that either indicates breeding success is independent of building nests or introduces irrelevant answer choice.
(A) Blackbirds build better nests than other birds.[Any other birds is not discussed as part of the argument – eliminate it]
(B) The capacity of blackbirds to lay viable eggs increases with each successive trial during the first few years of reproduction.[Hold it]
(C) The breeding success of birds nesting for the second time is greater than that of birds nesting for the first time.[This choice strengthen the argument – eliminate it]
(D) Smaller and weaker blackbirds breed just as successfully as bigger and stronger blackbirds.[The comparison of smaller and bigger birds has nothing to do with the conclusion – eliminate it]
(E) Up to 25 percent of all birds are killed by predators before they start to nest.[Predators attack is outside the scope of the argument – eliminate it]
Answer: B
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
03 Feb 2008, 19:56
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My vote is B - for reasons mentioned above. While it's not the strongest answer it's the best of the evils.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
05 Feb 2008, 14:14
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B it is. As it provides the most effective alternate explanation for the breeding success.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting [#permalink]
06 Feb 2008, 06:39
OA is B.
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Re: CR: Bird nesting
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06 Feb 2008, 06:39
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