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Senior Manager
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This has been discussed before. What do you think is the [#permalink]
 22 Jan 2007, 12:59
Question Stats:
100% (00:00) correct
0% (00:00) wrong based on 1 sessions
This has been discussed before. What do you think is the answer and why?
Capuchin monkeys in Venezuela often rub a certain type of millepede into their fur. Secretions of these millipedes have been shown to contain two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate the capuchins. The rubbing behavior is rare except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak. Therefore monkeys probably rub millipedes into their fur only because doing so heps protect them against mosquitoes.
Which of the following would be most useful to determine in order to evaluate the argument.
A) Whether the two chemicals provide any protection for millipedes against their own repellents.
B) Whether the type of millipede used by the capuchin monkeys in Venezuela is found in other parts of the world.
C) Whether animals other than capuchins rub insects of any kind into their fur
D) Whether the only time millipedes are readily available to capuchins is during rainy season
E) Whether secretions of any other insects accessible to capuchins contain chemicals that repel the mosquitoes.
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Senior Manager
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premise = 1. millpedes retard mosquitoes
2. mosquitoes trouble the monkeys
3. mosquitoes at peak during rainy season.
4. rubbing is done only during rainy season.
conclusion = monkeys rub millpededes so as to protect themselves against mosquitoes.
assumption or the missing link between premise and conclusion = whether millpedes are there during rainy season? for if there were none,the whole exercise will be futile and monkeys will be attacked by mosquitoes.
hence choice D looks good to me.
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Manager
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I think D.
We can classify reasons, why monkey rub millipedes, into two categories. Either because of mosquito, as discussed in passage, or any other. Availability of millipedes would be more instrumental in evaluating the argument.
Mosquito is a seasonal problem (during rainy season). If millipedes are available throughout the year, however monkey rub them only in rainy season, this behavior can be very much linked with problem/stimulations arising due to rains such as mosquito. We can say that because Monkeys don't rub millipedes in any other season despite its availability, it means they do not need to do this during other seasons.
However if millipedes are available only in rainy season, we need more evidences to link mosquitoes to this seasonal rubbing behavior of monkeys. One can say monkey are rubbing millipedes just because millipedes are available only now and monkey like its smell.
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Director
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one more D.
If the millipedes are not available in other seasons, how can monkies rub them?
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Senior Manager
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Yes it is D
Thanks for trying
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Quote: Which of the following would be most useful to determine in order to evaluate the argument.
Evaluate --what does it mean?
DO we need to identify the missing link and see which answers the Q?
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