Since 1978, the Hawaiian green turtle has been listed among endangered

Question

Since 1978, the Hawaiian green turtle has been listed among endangered species. In the nineteenth century and in the early part of the twentieth century, the Hawaiian green turtle was considered a delicacy and was frequently caught for its value as a luxury food item. Its shell and other nonedible features were also considered valuable on the open market. Today the green turtle is heavily protected, and there are strict laws against capturing or harming the large turtles. The green turtles remain on the endangered species list, however, and there are signs that the green turtle population is not increasing as quickly as had been hoped.

Which of the following best explains the anomaly of the ongoing diminishment of the green turtle population in spite of the endangered species status?

(A) The Hawaiian green turtle is omnivorous but has lately been forced to live primarily as a vegetarian.

(B) The Hawaiian green turtle is known for its very long life, with females living up to 750 years, but it has not been living as long in recent years.

(C) The Hawaiian green turtle has faced problems among its species, such as tumors that target the young turtles in particular.

(D) The Hawaiian green turtle navigates its migration habits based on ocean currents, and the onset of global warming has altered the traditional currents.

(E) The ghost crab is a traditional predator of the Hawaiian green turtle hatchlings at their nesting sites in the French Frigate Shoals.

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SKaur3 · Answer

In Nutshell, Argument tells us some background info about the green turtle being a delicacy and having demand in an open market for non-edible parts. Since 1978, it has been on the endangered species list, and the population is not growing at an expected rate.
Question stem asks for a reason that should explain this slow growth.
 
Even if this is true, this doesn't present substantial evidence of slow growth. Maybe turtles have adapted well to a vegetarian diet, so this won't explain "turtles not increasing quickly".   Eliminate.  
 
Let's say, now females are living for 500 years, then also we can't explain this slow recovery.  Eliminate.  
 
This means, turtles are facing a problem and specifically young turtles, which explains that fewer turtles will survive to adulthood hence pointing to a low reproduction rate.   Keep it.  
 
Migration can alter the timigs but not the population.   Eliminate.  
 
It is a general statement about a predator but doesn't adds up any value to our understanding of slow recovery.   Eliminate.

Answer - C

Abhiswarup · Answer

I think Correct answer is C

Option C explain the reason for its ongoing diminishment even after making it endangered species.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Overview:

In this question, the student is given information about the Hawaiian green turtle and asked to identify the answer choice that best explains the anomaly between the endangered species status of the green turtle (which should protect it from species diminishment) and the actual species diminishment that continues to occur. The passage contains information about the history of the Hawaiian green turtle, suggesting that the Hawaiian green turtle is well protected under its endangered species status. As a result, there is no clear information in the passage itself to indicate a reason for the ongoing diminishment of the species, so the student must consider each of the answer choices in turn to see if it suffices to explain the anomaly. This makes question 4 somewhat more challenging, and the student must pay careful attention to each answer choice to see if it makes sense within the context of the information that is provided.

The Correct Answer:

C If there are tumors attacking the species and targeting the younger turtles, it is clearly arguable that the younger turtles are dying off and, thus, that the turtle population is not increasing in spite of endangered species protection. Put another way: if the tumors are attacking the younger turtles, it means that there is less chance for reproduction and less opportunity for the turtle population to grow. Answer choice (C) is correct.

The Incorrect Answers:

A Answer choice (A) provides an interesting piece of information: the Hawaiian green turtle is omnivorous but has recently begun to live as a vegetarian due to available food. A closer look, however, shows that this answer choice does not provide enough information to explain the anomaly. If the turtles are living as vegetarians, they might still be getting enough to eat. And if they are omnivorous, they should be able to live as vegetarians without it creating mass starvation among them. Because answer choice (A) does not contain the suggestion that there is a shortage of vegetation for the turtles to eat, it is insufficient and cannot be correct.

B Answer choice (B) also contains interesting information, but it does not provide enough detail to explain sufficiently the diminishment of the Hawaiian green turtle population. There is no information about a shorter life span among the female turtles, nor is there any information about their range of reproduction age (i.e., are they dying while they are still in their reproductive years). As a result, answer choice (B) cannot be correct.

D Answer choice (D) contains no explanation about why the changes in ocean currents from global warming have contributed to a decrease in the Hawaiian green turtle population. Without the further details, answer choice (D) contains no context and simply offers information that does little to explain the anomaly. This answer choice is incorrect and may be eliminated.

E At first glance, answer choice (E) does provide information that could explain the diminishment of the Hawaiian green turtle population: ghost crabs are consuming the hatchlings at the nesting site in the French Frigate Shoals. Upon a closer look, however, there is information to indicate that the ghost crab is a “traditional” predator of the green turtle hatchlings, so this does nothing to explain the more recent reduction of the green turtle population. Answer choice (E) is incorrect.

Akarsh97 · Answer

The problem mentioned with E, in its lite version appeared in C also; tumor is the problem but  since when ?

And choice B gave a clarification in this sense by mentioning recent year and therefore appeared as better choice.

Pl clarify.

kartickdey · Answer

Previously I attempted one question... There were two options very similar to the option B and C. In that question the option which is similar to the present option B was the right option. The logic was that it was more direct in the sense directly referring to death whereas the other option is indirect in the sense that it is taking about one disease without mentioning whether that disease leads to death or not. But as in this question it is totally reversed, I am confused about the right logic.  Bunuel ,  KarishmaB ,  bb  please help.

bb · Answer

Hi. Your sense is correct - this is not a very satisfying question... and it does seem to have 2 incomplete possibly correct answers.

The tumor thing is no way referenced or hinted in the main argument but it is some of the question types - explain paradox and a few others that rely on the new information (the question phrasing should have added "if true" to be more GMAT-style)

I feel there are technically 2 answers that could be correct: B and C but neither is good enough to be it.

I felt B could be one possible explanation that the lower life-span decreases the number of species around since the population increase includes living plus new members of the species, though it is a bit incomplete and tricky to track since the conservation started only in 1978 and the fact that they are living less than 750 years the impact is unclear but so is the increase. It can explain some decrease. However, we need additional assumptions and information about the reduced life-span and rate of increase.

C is stronger to an extent - we are told turtles are having tumors. Are they dying from tumors? We are not told about it. There is an additional assumption required that says that tumors are lethal and causing the population to dwindle. Without this assumption the answer is incomplete.

capnmoron · Answer

I just have one problem with the correct answer, it also ASSUMES that tumors lead to decreased lifespan.

egmat · Answer

Hi capnmoron,

You're right that C does lean on a small unstated step: that tumors attacking the young turtles are bad for them. So your observation is accurate. The key is  why that doesn't hurt C the way it would hurt a different question type.

This is an  "explain the anomaly"  question, not a  must-be-true  or  find-the-assumption  question. The standard is different:

- In an assumption/inference question, any gap the answer relies on can sink it.
- In an  explain  question, you're allowed to read an answer choice by its  plain, commonsense implication , and you pick the one that most reduces the surprise. The correct answer rarely proves the outcome airtight - it just makes it far less mysterious.

Now look at the exact wording:  "problems among its species, such as tumors that target the young turtles."  The choice already labels this a  problem  and names  tumors  - words that inherently signal harm. Concluding "fewer young survive to reproduce" isn't smuggling in an outside fact; it's the natural reading of the sentence itself. That's a minimal, allowed bridge - not a leap.

Contrast that with what a  real  disqualifier looks like - choice E. E's flaw isn't an unstated assumption; it's a word the choice  explicitly states : the ghost crab is a  "traditional"  predator. That word directly conflicts with what we need (a  recent  cause). C has nothing like that working against it.

Quick way to feel the standard:  imagine the puzzle "Sales fell even though we cut prices." An answer like  "A competitor opened next door"  is accepted as an explanation - even though, strictly, it assumes the competitor drew customers away. In an explain question that commonsense link is fair game; in an assumption question it wouldn't be.

So C isn't disqualified because the tiny link it needs is the choice's obvious meaning - and it's the only option that offers a recent, undefeated cause. That's what "best explains" rewards.

Answer: C

guddo · Answer

Since 1978, the Hawaiian green turtle has been listed among endangered species. In the nineteenth century and in the early part of the twentieth century, the Hawaiian green turtle was considered a delicacy and was frequently caught for its value as a luxury food item. Its shell and other nonedible features were also considered valuable on the open market. Today the green turtle is heavily protected, and there are strict laws against capturing or harming the large turtles. The green turtles remain on the endangered species list, however, and there are signs that the green turtle population is not increasing as quickly as had been hoped. 
 
Which of the following best explains the anomaly of the ongoing diminishment of the green turtle population in spite of the endangered species status?

The puzzle is that humans are no longer legally allowed to capture or harm the turtles, yet the turtle population is still not recovering quickly.  The best explanation  should give another cause of population decline besides human hunting, especially one that still affects  survival or reproduction .

(A) The Hawaiian green turtle is omnivorous but has lately been forced to live primarily as a vegetarian.

This might be relevant, but it does not clearly explain why the population is still declining or recovering slowly. We are not told that this diet change is harmful.

(B) The Hawaiian green turtle is known for its very long life, with females living up to 750 years, but it has not been living as long in recent years.

This describes a possible result, not a clear cause. It does not explain why the turtles are living shorter lives.

(C) The Hawaiian green turtle has faced problems among its species, such as tumors that target the young turtles in particular.

This is correct. If young turtles are being harmed by tumors, then the population may fail to recover even though adult turtles are legally protected from capture or harm.

(D) The Hawaiian green turtle navigates its migration habits based on ocean currents, and the onset of global warming has altered the traditional currents.

This could be relevant, but it is less direct. It suggests a possible disruption, but does not clearly show a direct cause of continued population decline.

(E) The ghost crab is a traditional predator of the Hawaiian green turtle hatchlings at their nesting sites in the French Frigate Shoals.

This does not explain the anomaly. A traditional predator likely existed before the protection laws as well, so it does not explain why protection has failed to produce the hoped-for recovery.

Answer: (C)

Since 1978, the Hawaiian green turtle has been listed among endangered

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Since 1978, the Hawaiian green turtle has been listed among endangered

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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