Despite its 1989 designation as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, has declined in numbers by ninety percent since the 1980s. Although federal protection made it illegal to harm desert tortoises or remove them from the wild of the southwestern North American deserts, this measure has been insufficient to reverse the species’ decline, and further intervention is required. Recovery has been slow, partly due to the desert tortoise’s low reproductive potential. Females breed only after reaching full size at fifteen to twenty years of age, and even then may only lay eggs when adequate forage is available. Although the number of eggs in each clutch varies, and each female might lay a few clutches in one season, the average mature female produces only a few eggs annually. From these precious eggs, hatchlings emerge wearing soft shells that will harden slowly into protective armor over the next five years. The vulnerable young are entirely neglected by adult tortoises, and only five percent ultimately reach adulthood. Predators are blamed for most tortoise deaths; ravens, specifically, are estimated to cause more than half of the juvenile tortoise deaths in the Mojave Desert. Tortoise eggs and juveniles, with their delicate shells, can fall prey to many birds, mammals, and other reptiles. For protection from predators, as well as from desert temperature extremes, tortoises of all ages burrow into the earth. However, if rabbits and rodents are scarce, larger mammalian predators may dig tortoises out of their burrows, devouring even mature tortoises despite their hardened shells. Even with current protections from human interference, the desert tortoise faces a tough recovery, so additional measures must be taken. First, the limited habitat of desert tortoises, with soil suitable for their burrows, must be protected from development. Next, urban expansion often has the unintended effect of increasing raven populations, so aggressive measures to control the birds are necessary to increase desert tortoise hatchling survival rates. Finally, released captive tortoises typically perish, and can pass upper respiratory tract disease into the wild population with devastating consequences. Though desert tortoises are well adapted to arid habitats, and adults can survive a year without access to water, they rely heavily on moisture in the vegetation consumed in spring, when they surface from their hibernal dormancy. The loss of native plants to grazing livestock and invasive plant species, then, may lessen the tortoise’s resistance to pathogens, though the tortoises do also dig precipitation basins in the soil and linger near one when rain is impending. However, if rabbits and rodents are scarce, larger predators may exhume tortoises from their burrows, devouring even mature tortoises despite their hardened shells. Further, tortoises are susceptible to a wide range of pathogens. The population decline is partly due to upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), characterized by nasal and ocular discharge and palpebral edema. In 2006, more than 80 percent of captive desert tortoises had anti-mycoplasma antibodies , seropositive indication of the disease. Released captive tortoises can rapidly spread URTD into the wild population with devastating consequences. Though desert tortoises are well adapted to arid habitats, and adults can survive a year without access to water, they rely heavily on moisture in the vegetation consumed in spring, when they surface from their hibernal dormancy. 1 E 1. It can be inferred from the passage that the desert tortoise mortality rate would be most likely to decrease if which of the following were true? (A) Desert tortoise burrows were cooler. (B) Male and female tortoises mated more frequently. (C) Adult tortoises provided better care for their young. (D) Forage plants were abundant in the habitat of the desert tortoise. (E) Rabbits were abundant in the habitat of the desert tortoise. 2 C 2. The passage mentions each of the following as reasons that the desert tortoise is a threatened species EXCEPT (A) expansion of urban areas near the desert tortoise habitat (B) the low reproductive rate of desert tortoises (C) desert temperature extremes (D) predation by ravens (E) the release of captive tortoises by pet owners 3 B 3. The primary intent of the passage is to do which of the following? (A) Describe the lifecycle of a species (B) Advocate future actions (C) Discuss a problem (D) Evaluate past actions (E) Criticize the government 4 D 4. Previous efforts to protect the desert tortoise are regarded by the author with (A) weary skepticism (B) complete satisfaction (C) implied opposition (D) qualified approval (E) overt disdain 5 E 5. The passage implies that precipitation in the desert tortoise’s habitat A. falls approximately once a year B. increases the tortoise’s resistance to pathogens C. falls mainly in the spring D. is consumed primarily by grazing livestock E. is collected by the tortoises intentionally 6 A 6. The passage implies that a mature female desert tortoise A. has little contact with its offspring after birth B. might produce only one surviving offspring each decade C. has a softer shell than a mature male desert tortoise D. produces fewer offspring than a mature male desert tortoise E. reaches reproductive maturity at a later age than a male desert tortoise 7 A 7. The author uses the adjective “precious” in the sixth sentence of the first paragraph most likely to emphasize that : (A) the number of eggs produced by female desert tortoises is limited (B) the shells of desert tortoise eggs are delicate and easily broken (C) desert tortoise eggs have high economic value (D) the eggs are fiercely protected by the female desert tortoise (D) predators, such as mammals and other reptiles, forage for desert tortoise eggs 8 B 8. The primary purpose of the passage is to A. describe the lifecycle of a species B. discuss the threats faced by a certain species C. advocate research on a disease wide-spread among captive animals D. evaluate potential solutions to a wildlife problem E. criticize federal legislation protecting a certain species 9 D 9. The author mentions “anti-mycoplasma antibodies” ( Highlighted ) in the second paragraph in order to A. claim that captive tortoises should not be released into the wild B. refute claims that captive tortoises are more healthy than those in the wild C. suggest an explanation for certain disease symptoms D. emphasize how widespread a disease is in a population E. discuss the effects of diet on the desert tortoise’s susceptibility to disease Manhattan CAT 6

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Despite its 1989 designation as a threatened species under the federal

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adstudy

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21 May 2020, 21:37

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mira93

SajjadAhmad

Can you please help in providing OE for this question.
I'm not able to find any inference of any of the answer choices directly from the passage.

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adstudy

mira93

SajjadAhmad

Can you please help in providing OE for this question.
I'm not able to find any inference of any of the answer choices directly from the passage.

Hello adstudy

I don't think i have OE of this RC, but here is the list of replies by some experts on this questions and they might be helpful for you.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its- ... l#p1232804

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its- ... l#p2105755

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its- ... l#p2107190

Thanks

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adstudy

The passage implies that precipitation in the desert tortoise’s habitat

A. falls approximately once a year
B. increases the tortoise’s resistance to pathogens
C. falls mainly in the spring
D. is consumed primarily by grazing livestock
E. is collected by the tortoises intentionally

SajjadAhmad

Can you please help in providing OE for this question.
I'm not able to find any inference of any of the answer choices directly from the passage.

Thanks SajjadAhmad.

I think the following post is the reason I could not relate to the particular question (Q-5).

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its- ... l#p1709719

An updated passage, in the posts, has been introduced to accomodate this particular question followed by a chain of thoughts on the same.

The original passage posted does not have reference to this Question, hence creating the confusion.

Anyways now I got why E is right for this question (Q-5)

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22 May 2020, 08:40

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4:52 minutes in total 4/4 correct (excluding question 5 - it is nowhere mentioned in the para not sure why there is a question 5) anyway including question 5, 4/5 correct in 6:20

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mira93

SajjadAhmad, please add this question

The passage implies that precipitation in the desert tortoise’s habitat

A. falls approximately once a year
B. increases the tortoise’s resistance to pathogens
C. falls mainly in the spring
D. is consumed primarily by grazing livestock
E. is collected by the tortoises intentionally

Show Spoiler

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The passage implies indicates an Inference question. Precipitation in the desert tortoise’s habitat is discussed in the last paragraph. A severe lack of precipitation is implied: the tortoise is well adapted to arid habitats and can survive a year without access to water. It is also stated that tortoises rely on plants for moisture, as well as rain collected in precipitation basins in the soil, dug by the tortoises themselves.

(A) Although adults can survive a year without access to water, the passage does not suggest that rain generally falls this infrequently.

(B) The passage states that the loss of native plants to grazing livestock and invasive plant species, then, may lessen the tortoise’s resistance to pathogens. This answer choice says the opposite.

(C) The passage states that desert tortoises rely heavily on moisture in the vegetation consumed in spring, but does not indicate in which season(s) precipitation typically falls.

(D) The passage implies that grazing livestock cause the loss of native plants, but does not indicate that livestock consume most of the precipitation in the habitat.

(E) CORRECT. The last sentence of the passage states that the tortoises dig precipitation basins in the soil and linger near one when rain is impending. The actions of digging to create the basins and lingering nearby when it rains imply an intent to collect precipitation.

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Your version of last para is nowhere mentioned in the passage atleast not on the device I am using. Moderators please take note. Thanks!

Posted from my mobile device

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Dear mira93 and Experts,

Could you please give a detailed explanation to Q-5.

Thanks in advance

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Extra Question 1:
The author uses the adjective “precious” in the sixth sentence of the first paragraph most likely to emphasize that:
(A) the number of eggs produced by female desert tortoises is limited
(B) the shells of desert tortoise eggs are delicate and easily broken
(C) desert tortoise eggs have high economic value
(D) the eggs are fiercely protected by the female desert tortoise
(D) predators, such as mammals and other reptiles, forage for desert tortoise eggs

Show Spoiler

Extra Question 2:
The passage implies that a mature female desert tortoise:
(A) has little contact with its offspring after birth
(B) might produce only one surviving offspring each decade
(C) has a softer shell than a mature male desert tortoise
(D) produces fewer offspring than a mature male desert tortoise
(E) reaches reproductive maturity at a later age than a male desert tortoise

Show Spoiler

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which type of question is question number 4? how to tackle these kinds of question?

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what is the difficulty level of each question in this passage ?

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what is the difficulty level of each question in this passage ?

each question is above 700

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tanu11

which type of question is question number 4? how to tackle these kinds of question?

Hi tanu11,

Q4 is expecting you to understand the perspective of the author. What kind of view is the author putting forward to the readers.To tackle such questions, I would suggest, understand the point of author: is he skeptical? ironical? or is simply presenting ideas, opinions or facts. These questions are indirectly asking to determine the tone of a para or the passage.

Let me know if you have further questions.
Thanks.

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tanu11

which type of question is question number 4? how to tackle these kinds of question?

thanks for the earlier response
i don't get the options sometimes. what should be done for that ?

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Where is the answer to Q5 isn't in the passage, is it?

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TarPhi

Where is the answer to Q5 isn't in the passage, is it?

@SajjadAhmad

Please read the OE of question #5 here in the link below.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its- ... l#p2135896

Thank you

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Hello @SajjadAhmad, the part about the basin desert tortoises make is missing. Thanks for your help though!

Cheers,

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TarPhi

Hello @SajjadAhmad, the part about the basin desert tortoises make is missing. Thanks for your help though!

Cheers,

Hi TarPhi,

The last para of the passage was present here. I have updated the passage.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/despite-its-1989-designation-as-a-threatened-species-under-the-federal-153806.html#p1709719

Now, you can refer the OE link shared by Sajjad, and let us know if you still have doubts.

Thanks.

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TarPhi

Hello @SajjadAhmad, the part about the basin desert tortoises make is missing. Thanks for your help though!

Cheers,

Thank you, my good sir! Have a nice day!

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tanu11

which type of question is question number 4? how to tackle these kinds of question?

thanks for the earlier response
i don't get the options sometimes. what should be done for that ?

Hey tanu11,

I am no expert, but what I can suggest is if you have issues with understanding the meaning of words, work on that by practicing a lot of passages.Try to understand the tones of passages, what the author is trying to convey. If you have a problem with Vocabulary, I would suggest familiarize yourself with such words. There are several sources for that.

You can also refer this link for more information : https://gmatclub.com/forum/tone-of-the-passage-97999.html

Thanks.

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Q5 help needed on E. How did we arrive on this solution.

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