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05 Nov 2021, 13:36
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tkorzhan18
In this question, we are looking for the answer choice that is "most strongly supported" by the statements above. Let's consider (C):
Quote:
Based on the passage, "pheromones evaporate without a trace almost immediately when temperatures rise above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit), as is typical during afternoons in places such as the Sahara Desert." So if ants left a trail of pheromones when temperatures were above 45 degrees Celsius, the pheromones would "evaporate without a trace."
In this situation, therefore, ants would not be able to use pheromones to "guide themselves between food and their nest." As a result, we can safely conclude that IF any ants live in the Sahara Desert, and IF they forage for food at no time but the afternoon, they would "generally not use pheromones to guide themselves between food and their nest," since we know the pheromones would likely evaporate. As a result, (C) is correct.
In your reasoning, it sounds like you "assumed ants should always use pheromones on their way from nest to food source." But keep in mind that the passage only states that "most species leave a trail of chemicals called pheromones." This means that some species of ants may not use pheromones. So, the evidence is consistent with the possibility that some species of ants may not use pheromones.
Additionally, note answer choice (C) is not actually stating that ants live in the Sahara Desert, or that they forage for food at no time but the afternoon. It's simply saying that IF they did, they would generally not use pheromones to guide themselves between food and their nest. And because we know that pheromones "evaporate without a trace" at temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, this statement is supported by the evidence.
I hope that helps!
udaypratapsingh99
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29 Jul 2022, 10:58
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gmatcrook
I am not convinced with any of the options C & E.
C) There is a possibility of a case that ants use pheromones in the afternoon in the Sahara desert for the given purpose because they are unaware of the fact that pheromones cannot help them in the afternoon in the Sahara desert. This is a very obvious and common scenario. Evolution and adaptability take time... thousands of years.. (This is similar to a scenario where the ant chose a path to their nest but they're unaware that their death is waiting on the way in the form of a human kid. They might have not taken the same path if they were aware that they won't reach home via that path, and they had another option... but they chose it).
E) There's no evidence that other method is any less efficient (or not fully efficient)
04 Apr 2025, 11:02
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Hi experts GMATNinja MartyMurray KarishmaB
I spent good amount of time to finally decide option C and E so wanted to check if my reasoning for option E is correct below?
Option E is wrong as the argument says that ants use pheromones but there can be other effective ways as well apart from pheromones to guide themselves between food and nest (for temperature greater than 45 degree celsius) which we don't know, hence, we can't comment that ants' efficiency will be lower as mentioned in option E. We have to make certain assumptions to make (E) as correct choice.
I spent good amount of time to finally decide option C and E so wanted to check if my reasoning for option E is correct below?
Option E is wrong as the argument says that ants use pheromones but there can be other effective ways as well apart from pheromones to guide themselves between food and nest (for temperature greater than 45 degree celsius) which we don't know, hence, we can't comment that ants' efficiency will be lower as mentioned in option E. We have to make certain assumptions to make (E) as correct choice.
