Ranger: Higher than normal temperatures are to blame for the decline

Question

Ranger: Higher than normal temperatures are to blame for the decline in the Montana wolverine population over the past five years.  Yet clearly, trappers have also played an important role in this decline.  In the past five years, the number of Montana trappers and hunters claiming their capture or kill of wolverine has risen sharply. Wolverines, they claim, are particularly fierce and dangerous animals that eat about anything, raid trap-lines, steal food from cabins, and ruin remaining food and belongings with musk and urine.

In the ranger's argument, the boldface portion plays which of the following roles?

(A) It is the main conclusion of the argument.

(B) It is an objection that has been raised against the main conclusion of the argument.

(C) It is a judgment that the argument opposes.

(D) It is a finding that the argument seeks to explain.

(E) It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

Original Source: Practice Pill Platform

plumber250 · Accepted Answer

Hi - it's a tricky one isn't it?!

The way the question is written is that the 'decline in wolverine population' is not a conclusion - rather it's a statement the passage is trying to explain.

Think of it like this - anything that is factual (i.e. there are less wolves than before) is not an argument. Because it can not be disagreed with.

What can be disagreed with and hence is an argument is WHY numbers are down.

Look at it like this and it becomes clear what the answer is....

GMATPill · Answer

Here's a diagram showing that the bolded statement is the main point. Everything afterwards is just stuff that supports this bold statement that trappers ALSO caused the decline.

https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoning/practicepill/bold/Slide7.PNG

prernadumca · Answer

Hi,
I am confused about the main conclusion in this question. I thought of decline in wolverine population as the main conclusion and thus answered E.

iriskasun · Answer

I was choosing between A and D. However, I agree with prernadumca - I thought the decline is the conclusion.. A little confused..

prernadumca · Answer

Ya got it, it means decline is just a piece of information given in the statement. However trappers playing an important role is the conclusion and rest of the para is explaining the same.. THANKS..

suyash23n · Answer

You can also look for key words and can sense the type of the following sentence. In the given Question, the phrase "yet clearly" gives us an indicates that the following sentence may be conclusion.
Remember, this is judgmental and not a thumb rule. You may want to refer power score CR bible to get more insight about the technique.

ankur1901 · Answer

can someone please explain why D is incorrect. 40% of the ppl have chosen it as answer.

plumber250 · Answer

Hi Ankur,

Sure, let me see if i can help..

D mentions a 'finding'.

What in the bold section:
 
Yet clearly, trappers have also played an important role in this decline.

Talks about a finding? I would say it doesn't

A 'finding' needs to be based on some evidence. There is none here. In fact the evidence follows this passage (the stats about the number killed).

Here then is the conculsion of the evidence, it's a little confusing because the conclusion comes first, but that's what makes it a difficult question.

James

aalokk · Answer

I choose D because of following considerations,
1. Conclusion - the decline in the Montana wolverine population
2. Reason - i) Rise in temp & ii) trappers and hunters killing wolverine
3. Last two sentences provide explanation of Reason (ii)

ankur1901 · Answer

Hi James, thanks for your response. After reading it, i did some googling to find difference between 'finding' and 'conclusion'. I tumbled upon the below article. https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 334AAIuEh9 I think below can be classified as finding - let me know if its correct In the past five years, the number of Montana trappers and hunters claiming their capture or kill of wolverine has risen sharply. Wolverines, they claim, are particularly fierce and dangerous animals that eat about anything, raid trap-lines, steal food from cabins, and ruin remaining food and belongings with musk and urine. Below is conclusion : Based on the above findings, author conclude the below. Yet clearly, trappers have also played an important role in this decline Hence A is the answer - now i get it..

plumber250 · Answer

Hi Ankur,

Yes - absolutely correct.

I'd offer some general advice based on what you mention in your post.

There are actually very few types of question like this using words like 'finding' or 'conclusion' etc. I'd learn them all.

This is the sort of thing that can be got from any GMAT prep book - or online course. Spend a couple of hours, it will help a lot

James

ssriva2 · Answer

I am little confused.second sentence has "have also".How can this be main conclusion?

samusa · Answer

D is wrong because the bold face is not a finding. It is not some kind of evidence.

penco · Answer

Hey,
Can anyone confirm what will be the main conclusion here.
I think it should be the boldface part just because there is a conclusion marker - 'Yet Clearly'

VerbalBot · Answer

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Ranger: Higher than normal temperatures are to blame for the decline

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Ranger: Higher than normal temperatures are to blame for the decline

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