In response to the increasing environmental damage wrought by poachers

In response to the increasing environmental damage wrought by poachers, authorities placed a ban on ivory in the 1980s. Although the ban resulted in an initial decrease in the sale and trade of illegal ivory and a concurrent increase in the elephant population, more pressing needs caused most Western nations to withdraw funding for poaching prevention programs. Without significant financial support, poorer countries were unable to effectively combat poachers. The resulting explosion in the ivory trade has seen prices increase to nearly 10 times the $45 per pound price at the beginning of the decade.

Unfortunately, the countries with the worst poaching problems have also tended to be the ones least able to combat the problem due to unstable political systems, corruption, lack of comprehensive enforcement programs, or some combination of all these factors. One primary hindrance to better enforcement of the ivory ban came from an inability to definitively identify the country of origin of illegal ivory. Countries used this uncertainty to avoid responsibility for curbing illegal poaching in their territories by attempting to blame other countries for the oversights in enforcement. Now, though, zoologists have perfected a new DNA identification system. First, scientists gathered genetic data from the population of African elephants, an arduous effort that ultimately resulted in a detailed DNA-based map of the distribution of African elephants. Then, the researchers developed a method to extract DNA evidence from ivory, allowing them to match the ivory with elephant populations on the map. Zoologists hope this new method will pinpoint the exact origin of poached ivory and force countries to accept their responsibility in enforcing the ban.

1. The passage suggests which of the following about the ivory ban?

A. It has been mostly unsuccessful in reducing the trade of illegal ivory. --Incorrect, passage says that the ban was successful, reference text highlighted in green color.
B. It will be successful now that the DNA-based map has been developed. --Incorrect, not supported, the author doesn't talk about the success of the ban after DNA-based map. The passage only presents the hope of Zoologists but never affirms that the ban will be successful.
C. Western countries will increase their funding of the program now that countries are forced to take responsibility for the poaching occurring within their borders. --Incorrect, not supported. Same as B.
D. Western monetary support was a major factor in its success. --Correct, reference text highlighted in green color.
E. It will continue to be ineffective unless the problems of political corruption are solved. --Incorrect, not supported.


2. The response of the countries with the worst poaching problems to the situation was most analogous to

A. a criminal who argues that it is not he but one of his accomplices who is guilty of a crime --Correct, reference text is highlighted in blue color.
B. a tax evader who uses deceptive accounting practices to hide her income from auditors --Incorrect, the tax evader doesn't blame someone else so this option is not analogous.
C. a white collar criminal who believes that his actions are not a crime because no one has been hurt --Incorrect, same as B.
D. an embezzler who steals from her company by pilfering small amounts of money over a long period of time --Incorrect, same as B.
E. a con artist who convinces his victim that it is in the victim’s best interest to help him --Incorrect, same as B.


3. The passage suggests which of the following about the DNA-based map created by zoologists?

A. The map is able to pinpoint the exact elephant from which poached ivory was obtained. --Incorrect, 'the new method will pinpoint the exact origin of poached ivory...' and not the exact elephant.
B. Its assemblage involved a great deal of work on the part of the researchers. --Correct, reference text is highlighted in red color.
C. Its creation will force countries to accept responsibility for the ivory poached from within their borders. --Incorrect, tricky one! As per the passage the Zoologists hope that the new method will force the countries to accept responsibility but whether it will happen for sure can't be inferred from the passage.
D. It allows zoologists to keep track of the migration patterns of African elephants. --Incorrect, nothing mentioned about tracking in the passage.
E. It must be updated constantly to account for changes in elephant populations. --Incorrect, not mentioned.


4. The passage is chiefly concerned with

A. exposing the weaknesses of the ivory ban --Incorrect, only a part of passage discusses the problem in enforcing the ban.
B. criticizing countries for failing to accept responsibility for the proliferation of poachers --Incorrect, not the main idea, only a small detail.
C. pleading with Western countries to re-institute financing for the ivory ban --Incorrect, pleading has not been mentioned in the passage.
D. advocating a course of action for countries with poaching problems --Incorrect, tempting one! the author doesn't advocate the solution it merely describes it, choice E is better.
E. detailing a way to overcome a problem that has lessened the effectiveness of the ivory ban --Correct, the first para describes a problem (ban enforcement) and the second para provides a way (DNA-based map) to solve the problem.