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A decade after a logging operation in India began cutting down trees in a territory that serves as a sanctuary for Bengal tigers, the incidence of tigers attacking humans in nearby villages has increased by 300 percent. Because the logging operation has reduced the number of acres of woodland per tiger on average from 15 acres to approximately 12 acres, scientists have theorized that tigers must need a minimum number of acres of woodland in order to remain content.
Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) In other wildlife areas in India where the number of acres of woodland per tiger remains at least 15 acres, there has been no increase in the number of tiger attacks on humans.
(B) Before the logging operation began, there were many fewer humans living in the area.
(C) The largest number of acres per tiger before the logging operation began was 32 acres per tiger in one area of the sanctuary, whereas the smallest number of acres per tiger after the logging operation was 9 acres.
(D) Other species of wild animals have begun competing with the Bengal tigers for the dwindling food supply.
(E) The Bengal tiger has become completely extinct in other areas of Asia.
Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) In other wildlife areas in India where the number of acres of woodland per tiger remains at least 15 acres, there has been no increase in the number of tiger attacks on humans.
(B) Before the logging operation began, there were many fewer humans living in the area.
(C) The largest number of acres per tiger before the logging operation began was 32 acres per tiger in one area of the sanctuary, whereas the smallest number of acres per tiger after the logging operation was 9 acres.
(D) Other species of wild animals have begun competing with the Bengal tigers for the dwindling food supply.
(E) The Bengal tiger has become completely extinct in other areas of Asia.
19 May 2025, 07:09
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Argument: Logging reduced woodland from 15 to 12 acres/tiger. Attacks on humans ↑ by 300%. Hypothesis: Tigers need a min woodland area to stay content (not attack). We need a statement showing less woodland → more attacks, or enough woodland → fewer attacks, or ruling out other attack causes.
Question: Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) In other wildlife areas in India where the number of acres of woodland per tiger remains at least 15 acres, there has been no increase in the number of tiger attacks on humans.
Strengthens: If areas with ≥15 acres/tiger have no ↑ in attacks, it shows tigers are content with ≥15 acres, supporting the idea that <15 acres (like 12) causes discontent and attacks. Directly links sufficient woodland to fewer attacks, matching the hypothesis.
(B) Before the logging operation began, there were many fewer humans living in the area.
Weakens: If fewer humans lived there before, the ↑ in attacks could be due to more humans now (more targets), not less woodland. This gives another reason for attacks, making the woodland-discontent link less likely.
(C) The largest number of acres per tiger before the logging operation was 32 acres per tiger in one area of the sanctuary, whereas the smallest number of acres per tiger after the logging operation was 9 acres.
Neutral: Shows variation (32 to 9 acres/tiger), but doesn’t link to attacks. We don’t know if attacks ↑ in areas with 9 acres vs. 32 acres. Doesn’t directly support woodland → contentment → fewer attacks.
(D) Other species of wild animals have begun competing with the Bengal tigers for the dwindling food supply.
Weakens: Competition for food could cause discontent and attacks, not just less woodland. This gives another reason for attacks, weakening the link between woodland reduction and attacks.
(E) The Bengal tiger has become completely extinct in other areas of Asia.
Irrelevant: Extinction elsewhere doesn’t connect to woodland or attacks in this sanctuary. Doesn’t show if 12 acres causes discontent or if ≥15 acres prevents attacks.
A strengthens the hypothesis by showing ≥15 acres → no attack ↑, implying <15 acres → attacks, supporting the woodland-discontent link.
Answer: A
Question: Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) In other wildlife areas in India where the number of acres of woodland per tiger remains at least 15 acres, there has been no increase in the number of tiger attacks on humans.
Strengthens: If areas with ≥15 acres/tiger have no ↑ in attacks, it shows tigers are content with ≥15 acres, supporting the idea that <15 acres (like 12) causes discontent and attacks. Directly links sufficient woodland to fewer attacks, matching the hypothesis.
(B) Before the logging operation began, there were many fewer humans living in the area.
Weakens: If fewer humans lived there before, the ↑ in attacks could be due to more humans now (more targets), not less woodland. This gives another reason for attacks, making the woodland-discontent link less likely.
(C) The largest number of acres per tiger before the logging operation was 32 acres per tiger in one area of the sanctuary, whereas the smallest number of acres per tiger after the logging operation was 9 acres.
Neutral: Shows variation (32 to 9 acres/tiger), but doesn’t link to attacks. We don’t know if attacks ↑ in areas with 9 acres vs. 32 acres. Doesn’t directly support woodland → contentment → fewer attacks.
(D) Other species of wild animals have begun competing with the Bengal tigers for the dwindling food supply.
Weakens: Competition for food could cause discontent and attacks, not just less woodland. This gives another reason for attacks, weakening the link between woodland reduction and attacks.
(E) The Bengal tiger has become completely extinct in other areas of Asia.
Irrelevant: Extinction elsewhere doesn’t connect to woodland or attacks in this sanctuary. Doesn’t show if 12 acres causes discontent or if ≥15 acres prevents attacks.
A strengthens the hypothesis by showing ≥15 acres → no attack ↑, implying <15 acres → attacks, supporting the woodland-discontent link.
Answer: A
01 Jun 2025, 03:30
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Bunuel
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
A decade after a logging operation in India began cutting down trees in a territory that serves as a sanctuary for Bengal tigers, the incidence of tigers attacking humans in nearby villages has increased by 300 percent. Because the logging operation has reduced the number of acres of woodland per tiger on average from 15 acres to approximately 12 acres, scientists have theorized that tigers must need a minimum number of acres of woodland in order to remain content.
Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) In other wildlife areas in India where the number of acres of woodland per tiger remains at least 15 acres, there has been no increase in the number of tiger attacks on humans.
(B) Before the logging operation began, there were many fewer humans living in the area.
(C) The largest number of acres per tiger before the logging operation began was 32 acres per tiger in one area of the sanctuary, whereas the smallest number of acres per tiger after the logging operation was 9 acres.
(D) Other species of wild animals have begun competing with the Bengal tigers for the dwindling food supply.
(E) The Bengal tiger has become completely extinct in other areas of Asia.
A
In this causal argument, the decrease in the number of acres of woodland per tiger is said to cause the increasing number of tiger attacks on humans. To strengthen this argument, it would help if the Bengal tigers in areas with a normal number of acres of woodland per tiger have NOT increased their attacks on humans. That’s what A tells us. B gives us an alternate cause for the increase in tiger attacks—in other words, it weakens the argument instead of strengthening it. Choice C adds details without really strengthening the argument. Choice D weakens the scientists’ hypothesis by presenting a possible alternate cause for the tigers’ attacks on humans. Choice E emphasizes the seriousness of the problem without shedding light on its cause.
