Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, face numerous threats in the

Question

Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, face numerous threats in their vast underwater domain. One critical and growing concern is entanglement in lost or discarded fishing gear, often referred to as "ghost gear." These forgotten nets, lines, and traps ensnare whales, causing injuries, infections, and sometimes even death. Despite extensive research, the factors influencing whale entanglement remain poorly understood.

One proposed explanation focuses on the whales' feeding behavior. Some species, like humpback whales, employ bubble-netting techniques to corral krill, their primary food source. These bubbles disorient and concentrate the krill, making them easier to scoop up. Unfortunately, the bubbles can also attract and trap whales themselves, leading to entanglement if ghost gear is present.

Another theory points towards natural curiosity. Whales are known for their inquisitive nature, readily approaching and investigating novel objects. Entangled whales often exhibit scars and wounds on their bodies, suggesting repeated interactions with fishing gear, potentially driven by their inherent curiosity.

Understanding the underlying causes of entanglement is crucial for designing effective mitigation strategies. Some initiatives focus on gear modifications, making fishing equipment less likely to entangle marine life. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop and deploy acoustic deterrents that emit sounds unpleasant to whales, discouraging them from approaching fishing gear.

While these efforts hold promise, addressing the issue comprehensively requires a deeper understanding of entanglement drivers. Determining whether feeding behavior, curiosity, or other factors play a more significant role will guide future conservation efforts and ensure the continued survival of these magnificent creatures.    1 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to:

(A) Discuss the various challenges faced by whales in the ocean.
(B) Highlight the dangers of ghost gear and its impact on whales.
(C) Explain the different feeding techniques employed by whales.
(D) Analyze the causes of whale entanglement in fishing gear.
(E) Advocate for specific solutions to prevent whale entanglement.

2 
 2. Based on the passage, which of the following is LEAST likely a contributing factor to whale entanglement in ghost gear?

(A) The whales' natural curiosity leading them to investigate unfamiliar objects.
(B) The use of fishing gear that is not specifically designed to avoid entangling marine life.
(C) The whales' bubble-netting technique attracting them to areas with ghost gear.
(D) The limited understanding of the factors influencing whale entanglement.
(E) The increasing presence of discarded and lost fishing gear in the ocean.

3 
 3. The passage suggests that future conservation efforts aimed at reducing whale entanglement should:

(A) Focus solely on modifying fishing gear to be less harmful to marine life.
(B) Prioritize the development of acoustic deterrents to keep whales away from fishing areas.
(C) Conduct further research to pinpoint the primary causes of entanglement behavior.
(D) Implement a combination of mitigation strategies addressing various risk factors.
(E) Focus exclusively on educating fishermen about the dangers of ghost gear.

8Harshitsharma · Answer

Can anybody explain the solutions properly?

Q1: Choice B and choice D are very close - how do we reject B? - both choices are talking about the same problem

Q3: Choice C is correct because the author mentioned in the last para that

While these efforts hold promise,  addressing the issue comprehensively requires a deeper understanding of entanglement drivers .  Determining  whether feeding behavior, curiosity, or other factors play  a more significant role will guide future conservation efforts  and ensure the continued survival of these magnificent creatures.

VinayakKaushik · Answer

Can someone please explain why C is not the correct answer for Q3.

Also, will be great to shed some light on why D is not the correct response for Q2.

celialem · Answer

Can someone provide a thorough analysis of how they reached the correct answers please?

dhwanit2412 · Answer

I believe, the answer to number 2 especially is wrong and the options too are very poor option D is the answer. I request the author to please correct it and also can someone explain Q3.

Agent9 · Answer

Please explain the logical thinking methodology for correct answers.

kubrah · Answer

Q3:

(C) Conduct further research to pinpoint the primary causes of entanglement behavior.
Why i believe C is wrong is because the passage never says to PINPOINT the PRIMARY causes of entanglement behaviour. It merely says "Determining whether feeding behavior, curiosity, or other factors play a more significant role will guide future conservation efforts". Hence more in line with what D says:

(D) Implement a combination of mitigation strategies addressing various risk factors.

Just my 2 cents. Hope someone else can provide a more detailed explanation

DonaSuvro · Answer

In Q 3, Option C ought to be the right answer since the last paragraph emphasises on ‘deeper understanding’ which is akin to research . 
The author has talked of two techniques specifically ( which could be implemented in combination too) yet suggests further understanding

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ZIX · Answer

According to the answer, Option D is a contributing factor.

So when humans suddenly understand the reasons, would the issue of whale entanglement solve itself?

Sujithz001 · Answer

parthwagh  can you please post the official solution?

Thanks!

Aryan638 · Answer

Can anyone confirm answers of q2 and q3

coolsies · Answer

Can someone please share the solution for 2 and 3.

miag · Answer

hi  GMATNinja   GMATNinja Two  Sajjad1994 , can you help explain why the answer for Q-3 is D), I am still leaning towards C)? The author has not mentioned combination of strategies anywhere, just that its necessary to identify which is the primary cause?

parthwagh · Answer

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to:
 
 Correct Answer:   (D) Analyze the causes of whale entanglement in fishing gear. 
 Supporting lines from the passage: 
 
 explanation: 
 
 The passage mainly discusses  why  whales get entangled (feeding behavior, curiosity, etc.). 
 It does not focus on general whale challenges, feeding techniques, or solutions alone. 
 That’s why the best answer is  D (Analyzing the causes of whale entanglement).

2. Which is LEAST likely a contributing factor to entanglement?
 
 Correct Answer:   (E) The increasing presence of discarded and lost fishing gear in the ocean. 
 Supporting lines from the passage: 
 
 explanation: 
 
 The presence of ghost gear  increases the risk , but it is not an  active reason why whales get entangled.  
 The passage talks about feeding behavior and curiosity  as the actual reasons why whales interact with ghost gear.  
 So  E is the least direct cause.

3. Future conservation efforts should:
 
 Correct Answer:   (D) Implement a combination of mitigation strategies addressing various risk factors. 
 Supporting lines from the passage: 
 
 explanation: 
 
 The passage suggests  multiple solutions  (gear modification, acoustic deterrents, more research). 
 It does not say we should  only  do one thing (like just research or just modify gear). 
 So  D (a combination of strategies) is the best answer.

rahul5657 · Answer

C - incorrect - while further research is important, the passage does not suggest that conservation efforts should be delayed until the exact cause of entanglement is determined. Instead, it emphasizes ongoing mitigation strategies alongside research.

D - correct - passage highlights multiple potential causes of whale entanglement—feeding behavior, curiosity, and possibly other factors—suggesting that an effective conservation strategy should address all these risk factors. The passage also mentions different mitigation efforts, such as modifying fishing gear and using acoustic deterrents, indicating that a combination of strategies is necessary rather than focusing on just one aspect.
D accounts for both research and mitigation efforts.

manish8242 · Answer

In Q3 the author says we need to find which one is more imp factor for whale entanglement. Doesn't it means he want to find the primary cause then find strategies according to that? 
And how can we say that we will require 'single combination' of strategy to address this problem? What if we found the 'EXACT' cause of our problem which is not yet known then we can mitigate it using one specific solution so we will not require a combination of strategies. Also no cause is fully confirmed yet so we cant say whether they are multiple different cause or single cause. What the author discusses are two possible causes not the confirmed causes.

egmat · Answer

manish8242  Let me help clarify why the passage actually supports option D rather than C.

Understanding Your Concern

You're absolutely right that the passage emphasizes understanding causes first. The key sentences are:
 
  "Despite extensive research, the factors influencing whale entanglement remain  poorly understood ."  
  "Addressing the issue  comprehensively requires a deeper understanding  of entanglement drivers."  
  " Determining  whether feeding behavior, curiosity, or other factors play a more significant role  will guide future conservation efforts ."

This naturally makes option C look attractive: "Conduct further research to pinpoint the  primary causes ."

The Critical Distinction: Primary Cause vs. Multiple Risk Factors

Here's where careful reading reveals why D is correct:

1. The passage identifies MULTIPLE risk factors, not one primary cause: 
 
 Feeding behavior (bubble-netting) 
 Natural curiosity 
  "other factors"  (explicitly mentioned)

Notice the final paragraph says:  "Determining whether feeding behavior, curiosity,  or other factors  play a more significant role..."

The passage isn't suggesting we find  THE  one primary cause (as option C claims). It's discussing understanding how  multiple factors  contribute  relative to each other .

2. The passage endorses multiple existing strategies:

"Some initiatives focus on gear modifications... Additionally, efforts are underway to develop and deploy acoustic deterrents...  While these efforts hold promise ..."

The phrase  "hold promise"  is positive endorsement. The passage isn't saying "stop these and just research." It's saying these multiple strategies are valuable.

3. The keyword is "comprehensively":

"Addressing the issue  comprehensively  requires a deeper understanding of entanglement drivers."

"Comprehensively"  means addressing ALL aspects of a complex problem. Since multiple risk factors exist (feeding, curiosity, other factors), a comprehensive approach requires  multiple strategies targeting these various risk factors .

Addressing Your "What If" Scenario

You asked:  "What if we found the EXACT cause... then we can mitigate it using one specific solution?"

This is logical reasoning, but notice what the passage actually suggests:
 
 The passage presents  multiple proposed causes  (not hypothesizing there's just one to find) 
 The passage says determining which factors play  "a more significant role"  - this implies  multiple factors of varying importance , not one single cause 
 The passage already describes  multiple strategies that "hold promise"  - if only one cause existed, why would multiple different strategies show promise?

The passage's logic is:  Multiple risk factors exist → Need deeper understanding of how each contributes → Comprehensive approach requires combination of strategies addressing these various factors

Why Option C Falls Short

Option C says:  "Conduct further research to pinpoint the  primary causes "

Problems with C:
 
 Uses  "primary"  (suggesting one main cause), but passage discusses  multiple factors  
 Focuses only on research, ignoring that passage endorses current strategies as  "holding promise"  
 The passage doesn't say "research first, then act" - it says current multi-strategy efforts are good  AND  we need deeper understanding for comprehensive solutions

Why Option D is Correct

Option D:  "Implement a combination of mitigation strategies addressing various risk factors."

This matches the passage because:
 
  "Combination of... strategies"  aligns with the passage describing multiple approaches (gear modifications  AND  acoustic deterrents) that  "hold promise"  
  "Various risk factors"  reflects the passage's identification of multiple factors (feeding, curiosity, "other factors") 
  "Addressing"  these factors comprehensively requires multiple strategies, not just research or a single solution 
 This interpretation is consistent with the passage saying deeper understanding will  "guide"  efforts - guide which combination of strategies to emphasize, not replace multiple strategies with one

The Bottom Line

The passage isn't presenting an either/or between "research OR implement strategies." It's saying:
 
 Multiple risk factors exist (confirmed) 
 Multiple strategies show promise (confirmed) 
 Need deeper understanding to guide comprehensive approach (confirmed) 
 Comprehensive solution = combination of strategies for various risk factors (what D states)

Your instinct about research being important is correct - but the passage frames research as supporting a  multi-strategy comprehensive approach , not as finding one primary cause to target with one solution.

Hope this addresses your doubt!

Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, face numerous threats in the

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Whales, the majestic giants of the ocean, face numerous threats in the

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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My Rewards