Measuring more than five feet tall and ten feet long, the Javan rhinoceros is often called the rarest large mammal on earth. None exist in zoos. Like the Indian rhino, the Javan has only one horn; African and Sumatran rhinos have two. While the Javan rhino habitat once extended across southern Asia, now there are fewer than one hundred of the animals in Indonesia and under a dozen in Vietnam. Very little is known about Javan rhinos because they lead secretive and solitary lives in remote jungles. Until recently, scientists debated whether females even have horns, and most scientific work has had to rely on DNA garnered from dung. The near extinction of the Javan rhino is the direct result of human actions. For centuries, farmers, who favored the same habitat, viewed them as crop eating pests and shot them on sight. During the colonial period, hunters slaughtered thousands. Now, human efforts to save them may well prove futile. The Vietnamese herd is probably doomed, as too few remain to maintain the necessary genetic variation. Rhinos from Java cannot supplement the Vietnamese numbers because in the millions of years since Indonesia separated from the mainland, the two groups have evolved into separate sub-species. In Indonesia, the rhinos are protected on the Ujung Kulon peninsula, which is unsettled by humans, and still have sufficient genetic diversity to have a chance at survival. Ironically, however, the lack of human disturbance allows mature forests to replace the shrubby vegetation the animals prefer. Thus, human benevolence may prove little better for these rhinos than past human maltreatment. 1 B 1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A. Javan rhinos are one of the most endangered animals on the planet. B. More is known about the genetics of the Javan rhino than is known about its mating patterns. C. Hunters killed more Javan rhinos in Vietnam than in Indonesia. D. Most animal extinctions are the result of human actions. E. Genetic diversity is the most important factor for the survival of a species. 2 D 2. The author’s attitude toward current human efforts to save the Javan rhino can best be described as A. optimistic and worthwhile B. pointless and doomed C. idealistic but profitable D. problematic and ironic E. confused but heroic 3 D 3. The author mentions that the Javan rhino has only one horn in order to do which of the following? A. explain why it is closer to extinction than the African rhino B. contrast it to the number of horns that the Indian rhino has C. demonstrate its evolution into a separate sub-species D. describe the features of the animal E. contrast it to the number of horns that females have 4 C 4. The purpose of the first paragraph is to A. discuss the different types of rhinoceroses that populate the world B. describe the ways in which human actions have brought the Javan rhino close to extinction C. outline the few known facts about the Javan rhino D. discuss the steps taken to save the Javan rhino E. highlight the differences between the sub-species of Javan rhinos in Vietnam and Indonesia 5 A 5. According to the passage, which of the following best explains why the number of Javan rhinos in Vietnam cannot be increased by additions from those in the Ujung Kulon peninsula? A. The Indonesian Javan rhinos constitute a separate sub-species. B. The Javan rhinos cannot swim to Vietnam and have no land route available. C. Neither Vietnam nor Indonesia has the funds for such a project. D. Javan rhinos in the Ujung Kulon peninsula are almost impossible to capture. E. Terrorist activity in Indonesia has made such a project too dangerous to attempt. 6 E 6. The author states that which of the following was most responsible for the near extinction of the Javan rhino? A. farmers shooting them on sight B. the separation of Indonesia from the mainland C. hunters slaughtering thousands D. current human efforts to save them E. the cumulative effect of many past human activities 7 D 7. Which of the following best expresses the author’s attitude toward the likely fate of the Javan Rhino? (A) optimistic about the Indonesian rhino’s long-term survival (b) resigned to the eventual extinction of the species (C) uncertain about the ongoing impact of farmers and hunters (d) pessimistic about the species’ chances for survival (e) ambivalent about the long-term outcome for the Javan rhinoceros

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Measuring more than five feet tall and ten feet long, the Ja

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Sajjad1994

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03 Feb 2023, 09:19

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jabhatta2

Bunuel - could you include the following question

Which of the following best expresses the author’s attitude toward the likely fate of the Javan Rhino?

(A) optimistic about the Indonesian rhino’s long-term survival
(b) resigned to the eventual extinction of the species
(C) uncertain about the ongoing impact of farmers and hunters
(d) pessimistic about the species’ chances for survival
(e) ambivalent about the long-term outcome for the Javan rhinoceros

What is the exact source of this question? and what is the OA?

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03 Feb 2023, 09:29

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Sajjad1994

jabhatta2

What is the exact source of this question? and what is the OA?

manhattan question

oa - d

Nikkz99

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Can someone say why Option A is wrong for Q7? And why option D is correct? Thank you.

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ankur1901

Mountain14

Experts,

How can you infer "B" for Q1?

i think its from the below lines

Very little is known about Javan rhinos because they lead secretive and solitary lives in remote jungles. Until recently, scientists debated whether females even have horns, and most scientific work has had to rely on DNA garnered from dung

It says most scientific work had to rely on DNA from Dung. So probably they have more info on genes than mating patterns. However it requires us to assume something.

Precisely. Option B requires us to assume something. Something which is almost always not recommended on inference questions. You have to be very factual and true to the passage.

I picked Option A ("Javan rhinos are one of the most endangered animals on the planet.") because it's much more reasonable to infer, as the following info from the passage suggests:

Quote:

The near extinction of the Javan rhino is the direct result of human actions.

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Nikkz99

Can someone say why Option A is wrong for Q7? And why option D is correct? Thank you.

The author is not at all hopeful and is pessimistic regarding species survival -- both in Vietnam and Indonesia.

For Vietnam he puts it very plainly:

"The Vietnamese herd is probably doomed, as too few remain to maintain the necessary genetic variation."

For Indonesia he says:

"Thus, human benevolence may prove little better for these rhinos than past human maltreatment."

1) Little better is same as saying not at all or not sufficient enough. So it becomes very likely that Indonesian sub-species is dommed too.
2) Also, since "there are fewer than one hundred of the animals in Indonesia", something potent or vastly better measures were required to save the already dwindling numbers.

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Can someone please explain Q7 sajjad

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Also, to add to this good explanation, doomed is more pointed towards the already less population of rhinos due to previous human actions, while both problematic and ironic can be used to describe current human actions.

XavierAlexander

For all those who're confused b\w choices B and D in Q2, here's a simple, accurate and GMAT way of eliminating the wrong one:-

“Pointless” and “Doomed” are extreme words (i.e. there's 0% chance of any revival), and thus should be avoided in RC answers if not explicitly mentioned or supported.

In the mentioned passage author has no where mentioned about the absolute surety or guarantee of Indonesian rhino's extinction by human's benevolence. Instead, author has used the word "may" many times.

Thanks to Ron, Manhattan Prep, for the insight.

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I think contrast means to differentiate, And so it's not actually a contrast since the author says they're alike.

Kconfused

Is it me or does anyone else think that these answers are complete bonkers?
He mentions the horn of a Javan Rhino and contrasts it with the horns of its Sumatran neighbours to give us a physical description? That can't be the reason. It is to show how these Rhinos have evolved into their own sub species (growing a single horn).
I suppose answers to a couple more questions are laughable too!
Can we have someone from Manhattan drop in and say word on the correct answers, please? Can't find any on the web!