Less than 50 percent of a certain tropical country’s wildlands remains

Question

Less than 50 percent of a certain tropical country’s wildlands remains intact. Efforts are under way to restore biological diversity in that country by restoring some destroyed wild habitats and extending some relatively intact portions of forests. However, opponents argue that these efforts are not needed because there is still plenty of wildland left.

Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the argument of the opponents of conservation efforts?

(A) As much, if not more, effort is required to restore a wild habitat as to preserve an intact habitat.

(B) The opponents of restoration efforts are, for the most part, members of the wealthier classes in their own villages and cities.

(C) Existing conservation laws have been very effective in preserving biological diversity within the wildlands that remain intact.

(D) For many tropical species native to that country, the tropical wildlands that are still relatively intact do not provide appropriate habitats for reproduction.

(E) If a suitable population of plants and animals is introduced and is permitted to disperse and grow, tropical habitats can most certainly be restored.

bhaskar123 · Answer

I think the answer is D. 
Less than 50 percent of a certain tropical country’s wildlands remains intact. Efforts are under way to restore biological diversity in that country by restoring some destroyed wild habitats and extending some relatively intact portions of forests. However, opponents argue that these efforts are not needed because there is still plenty of wildland left.

The argument says that wildland is decreasing and effort should be made to preserve the biological diversity of the country. Efforts are being made in this direction by restoring the destroyed wildland and extending the available wildland. The opponents are saying this effort is not needed because enough biological diversity exist.

Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the argument of the opponents of conservation efforts?
 How do we weaken opponent's argument ? One way is to show that available biological diversity might decrease if efforts to increase the wildland are not made. Another way is to show that wildlife ecosystem may decrease if present situation is not remedied. Lets go through options.

(A) As much, if not more, effort is required to restore a wild habitat as to preserve an intact habitat. - this does not address the conclusion. efforts are required to preserve / restore the wild habitat but what if diversity can flourish in diminished land? does this weaken the claim of opponents ? No.

(B) The opponents of restoration efforts are, for the most part, members of the wealthier classes in their own villages and cities. - this is just a throw away option. nothing to comment here really. Just another easy out of scope.

(C) Existing conservation laws have been very effective in preserving biological diversity within the wildlands that remain intact.
- this strengthens the opponent's argument. 
(D) For many tropical species native to that country, the tropical wildlands that are still relatively intact do not provide appropriate habitats for reproduction.- if tropical species need different environment to flourish then opponent's argument will be fall flat. because then we will need to develop the wildland conducive to tropical species.

(E) If a suitable population of plants and animals is introduced and is permitted to disperse and grow, tropical habitats can most certainly be restored. - this strengthens the opponent's argument. If a suitable population can be diversified in limited space then we do not need to grow the wildland.

Hence i believe Answer is D.

jpan · Answer

IMO answer is D. 
To weaken the opposition, we ought to prove that the wildland remaining is insufficient in some way. 
A: As much as that is true, it just goes on to support the opponent.
B: Targetting opponents because of their background and not the opposite argument itself.
C: Goes on to support opponent's argument.
D: This says that the remaining wildlands are insufficient in some way. This should be the answer.
E: Talks about "how" wildlands can be restored and not "why" they should be restored.

shades28 · Answer

If we need as much effort to preserve an intact habitat as to restore a wild habitat, doesn't (A) weaken the argument as well? As the effort involved in both is the same, shouldn't it be an answer as well?

egmat · Answer

SOLUTION

Passage Analysis

Less than 50 percent of a certain tropical country’s wildlands remains intact. 
•  Only less than half of the forests in a certain country of the tropical region remains as such. 
Efforts are under way to restore biological diversity in that country by restoring some destroyed wild habitats and extending some relatively intact portions of forests.
 • There are ongoing efforts to re-establish the biological diversity in that country.
• The method of doing this is by 
 o restoring some of the destroyed wild habitats and
 o extending some relatively untouched parts of the forests. 
However, opponents argue that these efforts are not needed because there is still plenty of wildland left.
 • Yet, opponents argue that these efforts are unnecessary.
• This is because a lot of wildlands are still left.

Question stem Analysis 
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the argument of the opponents of conservation efforts?
 We need to weaken the argument of the opponents.

Prethinking

The argument of the opponents is that there is no need for all the said efforts to restore biological diversity because a lot of wildlands are still left.
 Weaken framework 
What new information will decrease our belief in the conclusion that there is no need for all the said efforts to restore biological diversity because a lot of wildlands are still left?
 Weakener: 
Many native species require the lost habitats to thrive and cannot relocate to other habitats.

Option Analysis

(A) As much, if not more, effort is required to restore a wild habitat as to preserve an intact habitat.
  How much effort is required is not the point we need to look for. The point that matters is whether the effort is needed or not. Hence this answer is incorrect.

(B) The opponents of restoration efforts are, for the most part, members of the wealthier classes in their own villages and cities.
  Who the opponents are is also another irrelevant factor. We only need to see if the argument can be weakened, not the credibility of the claimer of the argument.

(C) Existing conservation laws have been very effective in preserving biological diversity within the wildlands that remain intact.
  The efforts focus on restoring some destroyed wild habitats and extending some relatively intact portions of forests. What the laws do to the remaining wildland is irrelevant. Hence this answer is irrelevant.

(D) For many tropical species native to that country, the tropical wildlands that are still relatively intact do not provide appropriate habitats for reproduction.  
  This option is in line with our Prethinking. It gives us a concrete reason for why the existing wildlands are not sufficient. Hence it is the correct answer.

(E) If a suitable population of plants and animals is introduced and is permitted to disperse and grow, tropical habitats can most certainly be restored
  How the tropical habitats can be reclaimed is not the question here; but whether there should be efforts to do so, is. Hence this option is also incorrect.  
The correct answer is D

sanjanavaikund · Answer

I agree. But it doesn't  damage  the statement as much as the option D

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Less than 50 percent of a certain tropical country’s wildlands remains

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