2016 GMAT Official Guide, Question 1, Page 502

Neuroscientist: Memory evolved to help animals react appropriately to situations they encounter by drawing on the past experience of similar situations. But this does not require that animals perfectly recall every detail of all their experiences. Instead, to function well, memory should generalize from past experiences that are similar to the current one.

The neuroscientist's statements, if true, most strongly support which of the following conclusions?

(A) At least some animals perfectly recall every detail of at least some past experiences.
(B) Perfectly recalling every detail of all their past experiences could help at least some animals react more appropriately than they otherwise would to new situations they encounter.
(C) Generalizing from past experiences requires clear memories of most if not all the details of those experiences.
(D) Recalling every detail of all past experiences would be incompatible with any ability to generalize from those experiences.
(E) Animals can often react more appropriately than they otherwise would to situations they encounter if they draw on generalizations from past experiences of similar situations.

Explanation

Question Type: Inference
Boil It Down (Simplified & Abbreviated Summary of the Prompt): Generalized memory helps animals better function in similar situations
Goal: Based on the prompt, find the option that has to be true with 100% certainty.

Analysis: This is a straightforward Inference question. Given the information in the prompt that animals have evolved to draw on past experience to function better in similar situations, AND that the memories need not be perfect, just general, we need to find an option that follows with 100% certainty. In Inference questions, GMAC will be guaranteed to deliver 2 types of incorrect options:

1) Those that are too extreme to be supported from the facts given
2) Options that seem reasonable, but are not supported from the facts given

This question has both. Let's see which option best achieves our objectives:

A) From the facts given do we KNOW that at least some animals have the ability to perfectly recall every detail of at least some past experiences? No. From what's given, maybe, but maybe (and probably not). If the option is not 100% supported, DUMP IT! This is an example of an option that's reasonable, but unsupported.

B) This option is doomed right from the beginning. Since we don't know that any animal is even capable of recalling EVERY detail of ALL their past experiences, this option is discussing circumstances that are totally unsupported by the prompt. This option draws from circumstances that are too extreme and then makes a reasonable claim (perfect retention might help). The thing is, how do we know 100%? We don't. Maybe perfect retention is a curse. Maybe any animal that would be capable of perfect retention would be overloaded in a similar circumstance. This option is not supported with 100% certainty, so DUMP IT!

C) Reasonable but not 100% supported. Do we know that a successful generalization from past experiences requires clear memories of MOST if not ALL of the details of those experiences? No. Maybe a successful generalization requires 20% recollection for all we know. DUMP IT! Note, that "MOST if not ALL of the details of those experiences" ventures into extreme territory. We don't actually know that such a high level of retention is even possible.

D) This option goes to extreme on the negative side. So maybe an animal is capable of perfect recollection, but can we infer that this animal would then be incapable of generalizing from that information because of it? No. Too extreme. Maybe the animal could do a wonderful job of generalizing from perfect retention. Not supported with 100% certainty, so DUMP IT!

E) Yes! Notice the delicate and measured wording of this option. It's worded in such a way as to be GUARANTEED from the facts in the prompt. Yes, animals can often react more appropriately than they otherwise would to situations they encounter if the draw on generalizations from past experiences or similar situations. In fact, this option is so agreeable with the information in the prompt, it's probably playing it too conservative. We know this option with 100% certainty, therefore it's the correct option.