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Aryaa03
Joined: 12 Jun 2023
Last visit: 19 Feb 2026
Posts: 209
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB '27 (A) IIM Calcutta '26 (A) IIMA '26 (D)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q86 V81 DI78 
11 Apr 2024, 04:15
Kudos
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C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
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Question Stats:
49% (02:16) correct
51%
(02:26)
wrong
based on 786
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Primatologist: Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A. The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
B. The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
C. The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
D. The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
E. The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A. The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
B. The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
C. The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
D. The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
E. The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
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Primatologist: Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
Let's understand the structure of the Primatologist's argument :-
Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. (Fact, serving as the Context/Background)
The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. (Conclusion of the Argument)
In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. (Evidence nullifying alternate purpose attributed to grooming ie, to keep animal fur pristine)
Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed. (Another evidence nullifying alternate purpose attributed to grooming ie, health benefit)
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A) The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
BF1 -- Correct, since explanation has been provided for this fact; BF2 -- Incorrect, since the BF portion is not the conclusion of the argument.
B) The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
BF1 -- Incorrect, since the BF portion is not a conclusion of the argument, rather a fact; BF2 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose.
C) The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
BF1 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose ie, to keep animal fur pristine;
BF2 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose ie, health benefit.
D) The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
BF1 -- Incorrect, since the explanation is independent of the alternate purpose for grooming , as identified by BF2; BF2 -- Inorrect, since the BF portion is a supporting evidence in supports of the conclusion of the argument, by nullifying an alternate purpose.
E) The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explantion for that observation.
BF1 -- Correct, since it provides an 'alternate' explanation for the observation; BF2 -- Incorrect, since it does NOT rule out an alternative explantion, rather provides an 'alternate' explanation for the function of grooming
IMO, the correct option is (C)
Let's understand the structure of the Primatologist's argument :-
Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. (Fact, serving as the Context/Background)
The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. (Conclusion of the Argument)
In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. (Evidence nullifying alternate purpose attributed to grooming ie, to keep animal fur pristine)
Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed. (Another evidence nullifying alternate purpose attributed to grooming ie, health benefit)
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A) The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
BF1 -- Correct, since explanation has been provided for this fact; BF2 -- Incorrect, since the BF portion is not the conclusion of the argument.
B) The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
BF1 -- Incorrect, since the BF portion is not a conclusion of the argument, rather a fact; BF2 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose.
C) The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
BF1 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose ie, to keep animal fur pristine;
BF2 -- Correct, since the BF portion supports the conclusion of the argument by nullifying an alternate purpose ie, health benefit.
D) The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
BF1 -- Incorrect, since the explanation is independent of the alternate purpose for grooming , as identified by BF2; BF2 -- Inorrect, since the BF portion is a supporting evidence in supports of the conclusion of the argument, by nullifying an alternate purpose.
E) The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explantion for that observation.
BF1 -- Correct, since it provides an 'alternate' explanation for the observation; BF2 -- Incorrect, since it does NOT rule out an alternative explantion, rather provides an 'alternate' explanation for the function of grooming
IMO, the correct option is (C)
13 Apr 2024, 13:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
Primatologist: Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
The passage begins with some background information:
Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently.
Next comes the main conclusion of the passage:
The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion.
Everything that follows the main conclusion supports the main conclusion:
In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine.
The above statement supports the main conclusion by indicating that there is a purpose to grooming other than keeping animal fur pristine.
Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
The above statement supports the main conclusion by indicating that grooming provides a benefit other than health benefits.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A) The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
This choice starts off OK since the first is an observation. At the same time, this choice quickly goes wrong because no "explanation" for the first is provided.
Also, no support is provided for the second.
Eliminate.
B) The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
The second part of this choice is correct since the second boldfaced portion is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
At the same time, while the first boldfaced portion may present a conclusion, it is not "explicitly supported." It's not supported at all.
Eliminate.
C) The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
The first boldfaced portion provides support for the main conclusion, which is the only conclusion, that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion. It supports that conclusion by casting doubt on the hypothesis that the main purpose of grooming is to keep animal fur pristine.
The second boldfaced portion also supports the main conclusion. It does so by casting doubt on the hypothesis that grooming is done solely for health benefits.
Keep.
D) The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
The first does not support the second, and the second is not the main conclusion.
Rather, the first and second present different reasons to believe the main conclusion that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion.
Eliminate.
E) The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
The first does not provide an explanation for an observation. Rather, the first is an observation for which the conclusion that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion could be considered an explanation.
The second does not serve to rule out any explanation. Rather, the second presents another observation that is explained by the main conclusion of the passage.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: C
The passage begins with some background information:
Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently.
Next comes the main conclusion of the passage:
The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion.
Everything that follows the main conclusion supports the main conclusion:
In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine.
The above statement supports the main conclusion by indicating that there is a purpose to grooming other than keeping animal fur pristine.
Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
The above statement supports the main conclusion by indicating that grooming provides a benefit other than health benefits.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist's argument ?
A) The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
This choice starts off OK since the first is an observation. At the same time, this choice quickly goes wrong because no "explanation" for the first is provided.
Also, no support is provided for the second.
Eliminate.
B) The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
The second part of this choice is correct since the second boldfaced portion is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
At the same time, while the first boldfaced portion may present a conclusion, it is not "explicitly supported." It's not supported at all.
Eliminate.
C) The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
The first boldfaced portion provides support for the main conclusion, which is the only conclusion, that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion. It supports that conclusion by casting doubt on the hypothesis that the main purpose of grooming is to keep animal fur pristine.
The second boldfaced portion also supports the main conclusion. It does so by casting doubt on the hypothesis that grooming is done solely for health benefits.
Keep.
D) The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
The first does not support the second, and the second is not the main conclusion.
Rather, the first and second present different reasons to believe the main conclusion that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion.
Eliminate.
E) The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
The first does not provide an explanation for an observation. Rather, the first is an observation for which the conclusion that the main function of grooming is to promote cohesion could be considered an explanation.
The second does not serve to rule out any explanation. Rather, the second presents another observation that is explained by the main conclusion of the passage.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: C
