joshnsit wrote:
Wild cheetahs live in the African grasslands. Previous estimates of the size that the wild cheetah population must be in order for these animals to survive a natural disaster in the African grasslands region were too small, and the current population barely meets the previous estimates, At present, however, there is not enough African grassland to support a wild cheetah population larger than the current population.
The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following conclusions?
(A) Previous estimates of the size of the existing wild cheetah population were inaccurate.
(B) The cheetah's natural habitat is decreasing in size at a faster rate than is the size of the wild cheetah population.
(C) The principal threat to the endangered wild cheetah population is neither pollution nor hunting, but a natural disaster.
(D) In the short term, the wild cheetah population will be incapable of surviving a natural disaster in the African grasslands.
(E) In regions where land is suitable for cheetah habitation, more natural disasters are expected to occur during the next decade than occurred during the past decade.
Please comment your reasons while giving answer options. I will come back with OA once I get some correct reasoning flowing in.
Also, let me know which kind of question type this question is...
You should try to think ahead of what you are expecting from your answer option.
Look at the argument:
Previous estimates of 'cheetah population required to survive a natural disaster' were too small. (e.g. Previous estimate - if there are 100 cheetahs, they can survive a natural disaster. This estimate is too small. You perhaps need at least 200 to survive a natural disaster)
The current population barely meets the previous estimates. (The current pop is barely 100)
At present there is not enough African grassland to support a wild cheetah population larger than the current population. (So the population can't increase in the short term)
What can you say from this? What does this lead to?
That in the short term, if there is a natural disaster, the cheetahs probably will not survive it. (Option D)
(A) Previous estimates of the size of the existing wild cheetah population were inaccurate.
No. Previous estimates of 'cheetah population required to survive a natural disaster' were inaccurate. Not the estimates of current cheetah population.
(B) The cheetah's natural habitat is decreasing in size at a faster rate than is the size of the wild cheetah population.
The argument doesn't say that the natural habitat is decreasing. It only says that at present, it cannot increase. The rate of increase/decrease is anyway out of question.