A specific species of African monkey performs an elaborate rain dance

Question

A specific species of African monkey performs an elaborate rain dance after the first rain. The fact that the actual movements which the monkeys of this species perform differ depending on the troop's location in Africa has led zoologists to believe that the dance comprises of specific movements that are a cultural rather than a genetic development.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the zoologists?

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the zoologists?

A. Each separate species of African monkey performs a different dance after the first rain.

B. There is a known case of a monkey of the mentioned species raised among monkeys of a different species that would perform a dance different from that performed by his adopting group after the first rain.

C. A recent zoological report was published describing ant-luring technique differences between separate groups of the same species of monkey as based on the type of ant prevalent in the monkey's specific habitat.

D. An infant monkey raised in captivity would move about slightly after the first rain of the year, but its movements did not resemble those of any of the groups found throughout Africa.

E. The dance comprises of movements that are very similar when comparing troops of the same species.

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5monthGMAT700a · Answer

B  looks quite tempting, but it undermines both of cultural and genetic cause for the specific movements. So it  weakens  the conclusion by zoologists, because it says there is another cause for that movements.

D  illustrates a monkey in captivity. Because i ts movements did not resemble those of any of the groups found throughout Africa, D is weakening the genetic cause. The conclusion of zoologists also weakens genetic cause too. D makes the conclusion by zoologists more believable so it is the right answer.

PSKhore · Answer

Bunuel 
I was about to mark D, but then realized that no information has been provided about the species. Also, we should only be comparing it with other groups of the same species. Here, "other groups" could be from any of the other species. So, in all, I don't think this strengthens the conclusion without mentioning the same species part.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

A specific species of African monkey performs an elaborate rain dance after the first rain. The fact that the actual movements which the monkeys of this species perform differ depending on the troop's location in Africa has led zoologists to believe that the dance comprises of specific movements that are a cultural rather than a genetic development.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the zoologists?

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn by the zoologists?

A. Each separate species of African monkey performs a different dance after the first rain.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first sentence is a premise which provides factual data. The last sentence contains both a premise and the zoologist's conclusion, marked by the conclusion word believe that:

Premise A: a certain species of African monkey performs a dance after the first rain
 +
Premise B: the movements in the dance are different in monkeys of the same species but from different areas
 =
Zoologist's Conclusion: the movements of the dance are a cultural rather than genetic development

Possible assumption: the movements of the dance must be learned from others

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that supports the zoologist's belief that the movements of the dance are acquired through culture and not genetics. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the zoologist's belief. The conclusion rests on the fact that there are differences in the rain dance within the same species of monkey, not between separate species. Other monkey species are, therefore, out of the scope of the argument.

B. There is a known case of a monkey of the mentioned species raised among monkeys of a different species that would perform a dance different from that performed by his adopting group after the first rain.

Incorrect.

This answer choice weakens the conclusion, but you are required to support it. Since the monkey in this statement performed a dance not taught to him by the group, this might indicate a genetic rather than cultural influence. The zoologist, however, is claiming a cultural influence.

C. A recent zoological report was published describing ant-luring technique differences between separate groups of the same species of monkey as based on the type of ant prevalent in the monkey's specific habitat.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither strengthens nor weakens the zoologist's belief as it talks about location-based differences in ant-luring techniques within the species. This tells us nothing about cultural-based elements of the rain dance - a different issue altogether - and therefore does not strengthen the conclusion.

D. An infant monkey raised in captivity would move about slightly after the first rain of the year, but its movements did not resemble those of any of the groups found throughout Africa.

This answer choice provides an example that supports the zoologist's belief. If the adopted monkey found it hard to dance in captivity, it is probable that he needed to be taught the dance, thereby strengthening the conclusion that the rain dance is developed culturally, and not something a monkey is born with.

E. The dance comprises of movements that are very similar when comparing troops of the same species.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first sentence is a premise which provides factual data. The last sentence contains both a premise and the zoologist's conclusion, marked by the conclusion word believe that:

Premise A: a certain species of African monkey performs a dance after the first rain
 +
Premise B: the movements in the dance are different in monkeys of the same species but from different areas
 =
Zoologist's Conclusion: the movements of the dance are a cultural rather than genetic development

Possible assumption: the movements of the dance must be learned from others

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that supports the zoologist's belief that the movements of the dance are acquired through culture and not genetics. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice weakens the conclusion, but you are required to support it. A similarity between the movements of the rain dances of different troops of the same species would indicate a genetic origin, thus weakening the conclusion that the differences are cultural.

A specific species of African monkey performs an elaborate rain dance

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

A specific species of African monkey performs an elaborate rain dance

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards