Group 6 Question 29: Mountain goats in a particular region...

Given:
Mountain goats that climb to highest altitude are less susceptibe to diseases than those who don't climb as high.

Hypothesis:
Eating certain plants that are available only at certain height boosts immune system.

Need:
We need a valid reason that weakens the hypothesis that eating plants available in high altitude boosts immune system.

Possible reasons:
1. The plants in discussion are available only in highest altitude, so only the goats with good health can climb to highest altitude. Not all goats climb, so what if, only the goats that has good immune system can actually climb highest altitude to eat plants and not the othr way around.

2.There is no plants in lesser altitudes that could improve immune system.

Lets see the options one by one

(A) It has been shown that the goats that don’t climb as high still benefit from eating the plants that are only available at the higher altitude.
This says that plants available in altitudes other than the highest also helps the goats immune system. Though there are defiinitely benefits , is it as beneficial as goats in higest altitude in increasing immunity ? This information is not given. We can hold on to this option for now.

(B) Goats that climb to the higher altitudes sometimes suffer from respiratory illness.
Okay, respiratory illness might be due to altitude or there might be another reason. But this is out of scope for us - Incorrect

(C) Eating too much of the plants that are found at the higher altitude is not beneficial to the goats.
Okay,this might be true, but it has no relation to the point we are discussing - Incorrect

(D) Goats with stronger immune systems are able to climb higher.
This aligns with point 1 in our logic we discussed above. Only Goats with stronger immune systems are able to climb higher. So out of those goats only those with much better immune system can climb the highest altitude.
Lets hold on to this option for now.

(E) Some goats with average immune system strength attempt to climb to higher altitudes.
Again this option is out of scope for now - Incorrect

We are left with option A and D. Lets revisit the question again. Our answer need to be seriously weaken the hypothesis that certain goalss are less susceptible to disease.

Option A, gives information about how some goats benefits from eating plants not grown in highest altitude, this tells us about benefits of plants, but not about what made goats less susceptible to disease - Incorrect

Option D exactly says the opposite. If only the goats with stronger immune systems climb higher, then eating plants is not the reason goats are less susceptible to disease - Correct

Ans: D