The range of the American bison extended over about one-third of the

Question

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Passage # 195, Date : 09-Jul-2019
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The range of the American bison extended over about one-third of the entire continent of North America. Starting almost at tide-water on the Atlantic coast, it extended westward through a vast tract of dense forest, across the Alleghany Mountain system to the prairies along the Mississippi, and southward to the Delta of that great stream. Although the great plains country of the West was the natural home of the species, where it flourished most abundantly, it also wandered south across Texas to the burning plains of North-eastern Mexico, westward across the Rocky Mountains into New Mexico, Utah, and Idaho, and northward across a vast treeless waste to the bleak and inhospitable shores of the Great Slave Lake itself. It is more than probable that had the bison remained unmolested by man and uninfluenced by him, he would eventually have crossed the Sierra Nevadas and the Coast Range and taken up his abode in the fertile valleys of the Pacific slope.

Had the bison remained for a few more centuries in undisturbed possession of his range, and with liberty to roam at will over the North American continent, it is almost certain that several distinctly recognizable varieties would have been produced. The buffalo of the hot regions in the extreme south would have become a short-haired animal like the Gaur of India and the African buffalo. The individuals inhabiting the extreme north, in the vicinity of Great Slave Lake, for example, would have developed still longer hair, and taken on more of the dense hairiness of the musk ox. In the “wood” or “mountain buffalo” we already have a distinct foreshadowing of the changes which would have taken place in the individuals that made their permanent residence upon rugged mountains.   1 
 1. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?

(A) To explain how man’s activities have had a negative effect on ecology 
(B) To argue that efforts need to be made to conserve a particular species of animal 
(C) To discuss the geographical distribution of a species 
(D) To assert that at one time the American bison populated over 30 percent of North America 
(E) To compare the American bison with other similar species

2 
 2. The passage mentions each of the following as a negative impact of man’s activities on the American bison EXCEPT:

(A) The bison could not inhabit the valleys of the Pacific slope. 
(B) Certain new varieties of the bison could not be produced. 
(C) The bison could not cross the Sierra Nevada. 
(D) There was a drastic fall in the bison population. 
(E) The bison’s ability to roam at will was curtailed.

3 
 3. Which of the following can be inferred from the information provided in the passage?

(A) The American bison has now become extinct. 
(B) The American bison is a long-haired animal. 
(C) The American bison is related to the Indian Gaur. 
(D) The Rocky Mountains were not the ideal habitat for the American bison. 
(E) The Mountain buffalo is descended from the American bison.

GMATINSECT · Answer

In Question no. 3 - Why is D incorrect ? B is obviously explicity stated in the passage. Any explanation why not D ?

Thanks in advance.

dcummins · Answer

No, (B) isn't explicitly stated. It's inferred. "The buffalo of the hot regions in the extreme south  would have become a short-haired  animal like the Gaur of India and the African buffalo."

D is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests that the Rocky mountains were not the ideal habitat. The passage ACTUALLY states that the bison "wandered south across Texas to the burning plains of North-eastern Mexico, westward  across the Rocky Mountains . This doesn't mean the rocky mountains weren't ideal. We have no reason to accept or refute answer choice D, therefore we cannot infer D, therefore its incorrect.

Diya52 · Answer

3. Which of the following can be inferred from the information provided in the passage?

(A) The American bison has now become extinct. 
(B) The American bison is a long-haired animal. 
(C) The American bison is related to the Indian Gaur. 
(D) The Rocky Mountains were not the ideal habitat for the American bison. 
(E) The Mountain buffalo is descended from the American bison

Although the great plains country of the West was the natural home of the species, where it flourished most abundantly, it also  wandered south across Texas to the burning plains of North-eastern Mexico, westward across the Rocky Mountains into New Mexico, Utah, and Idaho, and northward across a vast treeless waste to the bleak and inhospitable shores of the Great Slave Lake itself. I thought this sentence is saying although it flourished abundantly some place it went to other places where it wasnt that ideal and hence chose option D. Can someone explain?

krishnabalu · Answer

Plz help with the explanations for Q1 and Q3.
On Q1, how is this passage about geographical distribution of species. The author has clearly stated about the different bison species and also informed that humans had molested them. Isn't A preferable?
On Q3, I still believe E is more preferable.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

DiyaDutta  and  krishnabalu

You may find this helpful.

Official Explanation

Topic

The American Bison

Scope

The range of the American Bison

Passage Map

P 1  – To describe the range of the American Bison and suggest that the activities of man had a negative impact on the same
 P 2  – To discuss what would have happened had man not interfered in the habitat of the bison

1. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

The entire passage is primarily concerned with discussing the range or spread of the American bison, so  (C)  should be the correct answer.

(A)  ‘Ecology’ is too broad a term and, though the author does mention this in passing, this is not the main purpose of the passage.
 (B)  Conservation is never discussed in the passage.
 (D)  Too specific to be the main purpose of the passage.
 (E)  As explained above, the main purpose is not to make any such comparison.

Answer: C

2. The passage mentions each of the following as a negative impact of man’s activities on the American bison EXCEPT:

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

It is not stated anywhere in the passage that the bison population fell drastically at any time. Hence,  (D)  is the correct answer.

(A)  This is implied by the last line of the first para.
 (B)  This is mentioned in the second para.
 (C)  This is implied by the last line of the first para.
 (E)  This is implied by the second line of the second para.

Answer: D

3. Which of the following can be inferred from the information provided in the passage?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

The lines in the last paragraph ‘would have developed still longer hair’ imply that the bison was already a long-haired animal. Hence,  (B)  is the correct answer.

(A)  The passage never states this.
 (C)  The passage does mention the Indian Gaur but not in this context.
 (D) & (E)  The passage never states either of these.

Answer: B

Hope it helps

joshuaa77 · Answer

Really struggling to distill the main purpose of the author in this one. I chose A, correct answer is C. I felt C to be too narrow of scope, and thought A gave a more general overview of the authors POV (i.e., his opinion on the negative effects). Why am I supposed to just ignore??the human effects part of this passage?

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

I also chose A, C seems to me a just a part of that. It has been mentioned that humans effect were there. But yes I didnt thought much on ecology so with this point option C is correct but not 100 percent

The range of the American bison extended over about one-third of the

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The range of the American bison extended over about one-third of the

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

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