ugimba wrote:
A conservation group in the United States is trying to change the long-standing image of bats as frightening creatures. The group contends that bats are feared and persecuted solely because they are shy animals that are active only at night.
Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the accuracy of the group’s contention?
(A) Bats are steadily losing natural roosting places such as caves and hollow trees and are thus turning to more developed areas for roosting.
(B) Bats are the chief consumers of nocturnal insects and thus can help make their hunting territory more pleasant for humans.
(C) Bats are regarded as frightening creatures not only in the United States but also in Europe, Africa, and South America.
(D) Raccoons and owls are shy and active only at night; yet they are not generally feared and persecuted.
(E) People know more about the behavior of other greatly feared animal species, such as lions, alligators, and snakes, than they do about the behavior of bats.
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition, 2003Practice QuestionQuestion No.: CR 9
Page: 501
Project CR Butler:Day 28:Critical Reasoning (CR2)
For all CR butler Questions Click HereContention - Bats are feared and persecuted SOLELY because they are shy animals that are active only at night
We need to cast doubt on this. What if we were to say that there are other animals that are shy and active only at night but people don't fear them? Then could 'shy and active only at night' be a valid reason? No. The contention says that it is the only reason people fear bats. If there are other animals with the same reason but people do not fear them, then it becomes illogical. Then this reason wouldn't be why people fear bats. Option (D) does just that. It gives us two other such animals. Hence (D) weakens the contention.
(A) Bats are steadily losing natural roosting places such as caves and hollow trees and are thus turning to more developed areas for roosting.
Irrelevant to our contention and argument. Contention claims that the only reason is that they are shy and active only at night. Whether they are interfering in people's living spaces or not is irrelevant.
(B) Bats are the chief consumers of nocturnal insects and thus can help make their hunting territory more pleasant for humans.
Again, irrelevant. We need to say why people are afraid of bats, not how they help us.
(C) Bats are regarded as frightening creatures not only in the United States but also in Europe, Africa, and South America.
Irrelevant
(E) People know more about the behavior of other greatly feared animal species, such as lions, alligators, and snakes, than they do about the behavior of bats.
Again irrelevant. It doesn't help us say whether the only reason people fear bats is because they are shy and active only at night.
Answer (D)
Can we say that option A and option E are weak weakeners also. In the absence of D, they could be potential weakners as they are giving us potential alternative explanation for why bats may be feared and therefore casting doubt on the accuracy of the contention by saying that No, bats could also be feared because they interfere in peoples living spaces as pointed out in Option A or bats could also be feared because a lot of the information is unknown. Please clarify.
18 Aug 2021, 03:23
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