Determining whether a given population of animals constitutes a

Can anyone please explain why option c in question 3 is wrong.
In the opening line it is mentioned that no single definition of the term exists. Is "Arbitary process" a too far interpretation of the same.
Kindly help

I choose wrong "A" over right answer "C". That's how I convince myself for right answer later on:

Between A and C, there is a difference of "Theoretical inconsistency" vs "Application" regarding "biological species concept".

Biological species concept is described in passage earlier; " blah..blah..".

Now, Three issues with this concept have been presented, and 3rd one is addressed in question,"groups that live in different places". In order to answer, we need to ask if a theory is given, can it be applied at given situation marked in yellow. The answer is "No", that why passage mentions it as one of the problem with biological species concept. It's because of some situation where concept is not applied, that comes under category of "application of concept can't be applied", not concept itself is at fault or inconsistent.

I think you answered your own question! The key is to use process of elimination every time and to avoid prematurely eliminating options. If you know why it is wrong, eliminate it. But if you aren't quite sure what a choice means, leave it. If you are uncomfortable with a single word but not sure whether it's a deal-breaker, leave it.

For a broader discussion of RC technique, check out our RC guide for beginners.

I hope this helps!

Hi Mansi,

Take a look at option B "Because no standard definition exists for what constitutes a species, the classification of animal populations is inevitably an arbitrary process".

The problem here is this line "the classification of animal populations is inevitably an arbitrary process".

Nowhere it is mentioned in the passage that classification is arbitrary process, author trying to classify animal populations through mentioned two definitions(phenotype and biological species concept).

Although there is no standard definition but that doesn't mean classification is done arbitrarily.

Hope it helps.

Hi Sanjay,

The problem with option D is the word "chief".

The author mentions three separate issues with using reproductive compatibility as the basis for defining species. The author never says that one or another of those factors is more important than the others, so there is an issue with the word "chief" in the answer choice.

Thus D can be eliminated.

Hope it helps

Hey! Firstly, congrats on your excellent score!

As for your question, yes! The author identifies an obstacle to the classification of biological species, yet it is just a few sentences in the whole passage. Such a narrow point would never be an answer in GMAT.



Choice C broadly covers both paragraphs and is the correct answer.

patto this reply well answers your question as well. I hope you find it useful.

Kudos if you liked this post, guys!

Have you had a chance to look at our earlier post on a similar question here? Check that out, and let us know if you have any other questions!

The author says that the idea is restrictive, not invalid. Invalid is too strong a word for his stand and until and unless he says "this concept is baseless/bogus/untrue/false/not valid," I wouldn't accept 'invalid.'
Though yes, I do hope that they clarify it a bit better in the actual test (the book has no highlighted text etc).

I agree that this is a confusing reference, but the question is trying to highlight the sentence that begins in line 10 and ends in line 13. True, you could argue that the question might be referring to both sentences together, but if you make that assumption, none of the answer choices would be correct! Thus, using process of elimination, choice (B) best describes the function of lines 10-13.

P1 - An idea is introduced. 3 flaws in that idea are pointed out.
P2 - An alternative of previous idea is described.

(Book Question: 54)
The passage is primarily concerned with

A. describing the development of the biological species concept
B. responding to a critique of reproductive compatibility as a criterion for defining a species
C. considering two different approaches to identifying biological species ----
D. pointing out the advantage of one method of distinguishing related species
E. identifying an obstacle to the classification of biological species
-----------------------------------------------

(Book Question: 55)
The author of the passage mentions “groups that live in different places” (in line 21) most probably in order to
pre-thinking - there is a flaw in concept, that is explained using this line.
A. point out a theoretical inconsistency in the biological species concept
B. offer evidence in support of the biological species concept
C. identify an obstacle to the application of the biological species concept------ correct
D. note an instance in which phenotype classification is customarily used
E. describe an alternative to the biological species concept
----------------------------------------------

(Book Question: 56)
With which of the following statements regarding the classification of individual species would the author most likely agree?

A. Phenotype comparison may help to classify species when application of the biological species concept proves inconclusive. ---- correct

--------------------------------------------

(Book Question: 57)
Which of the following best describes the function of lines 10-13 [First, mating between groups labeled as different species (hybridization), as often occurs in the canine family, is quite common in nature.]?
Pre-thinking : before this line, they gave the definition of a study. but called that idea very restrictive. these lines are defining that restriction.

I first selected B and E. one of them should be answer.
B. It develops a point about the biological species concept made in the previous sentence. --- correct.
E. It demonstrates why the biological species concept is invalid. --- so first study is true for some part, while false for rest. but is it really proving the study wrong. what if this line is true. then are you sure that this is of same group. this is not 100% true choice.

hey siddharthfrancis,

The statement B says
B)It demonstrates why the biological species concept is invalid.

According to the author, the idea is too restrictive. From this statement, we can easily infer that this idea carries some value; it doesn't matter how much.
So, the biological species concept is not invalid.

For Q3) Could someone explain how A is correct? In the passage the author clearly writes: "When the biological species concept is difficult to apply, some investigators use phenotype".

Difficult to apply does not mean inconclusive, so how does A make sense?

I chose D because the author writes "yet this idea can be too restrictive. First, mating between groups labeled as different species (hybridization), as often occurs in the canine family, is quite common in nature"

I understand that in D the answer says hybridization is THE way of undermining the biological species concept, but this phrasing seems to be more valid than A. Could someone explain where my thinking went wrong?

GMATNinja

u1983, GMATNinja, SajjadAhmad, workout, GMATNinjaTwo, Gnpth

Dear experts, can you please explain why A is chosen over C?
My understanding is that theoretically, this concept is okay but while applying in the real world faced three problems.

egards,
Arup

I rejected the option C and picked B for the word "Biological" assuming that it is not supported by the passage and first line of the passage says about the species and not just the biological species,

While reviewing I could eliminate B more than C!

Any tips on how to avoid such mistakes - not over-using one word off or too extreme concept


Experts may please respond!

In Qs 56, why is B not the answer?

The passage is primarily concerned with

(A) describing the development of the biological species concept
(B) responding to a critique of reproductive compatibility as a criterion for defining a species
(C) considering two different approaches to identifying biological species
(D) pointing out the advantage of one method of distinguishing related species
(E) identifying an obstacle to the classification of biological species


Hi GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo

As per my understanding, option E in the above question is wrong because the author has not written the passage to simply "identify" the fact that no single accepted definition of the term "distinct species" exists.

Could you please confirm whether my reasoning is correct?

Thanks

Hello! The question that says " the passage is primarily concerned with ...."

I find it difficult to determine whether it's C or E...
The first sentence states one obstacle and then the author introduces 2 approaches that are a sort of example to the difficulty stated on the first sentence.
Some expert pls help