Bunuel wrote:
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.
SOLUTIONPassage AnalysisLess 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 AnalysisWhich 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. PrethinkingThe 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 frameworkWhat 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
close
15 Jan 2020, 07:31
25%
(medium)
21%
(02:16)
wrong 
