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Question 1
A
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45%
(medium)
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42%
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Question 2
D
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Question 3
E
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52% (01:15) correct 48%
(01:32) wrong
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Question 4
D
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Question 5
B
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Question 6
C
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25%
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68% (01:15) correct 32%
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There are recent reports of apparently drastic declines in amphibian populations and of extinctions of a number of the world's endangered amphibian species. These declines, if real, may be signs of a general trend toward extinction, and many environmentalists have claimed that immediate environmental action is necessary to remedy this "amphibian crisis", which, in their view, is an indicator of general and catastrophic environmental degradation due to human activity.
To evaluate these claims, it is useful to make a preliminary distinction that is far too often ignored. A declining population should not be confused with an endangered one. An endangered population is always rare, almost always small, and, by definition, under constant threat of extinction even without a proximate cause in human activities. Its disappearance, however unfortunate, should come as no great surprise. Moreover, chance events—which may indicate nothing about the direction of trends in population size—may lead to its extinction. The probability of extinction due to such random factors depends on the population size and is independent of the prevailing direction of change in that size.
For biologists, population declines are potentially more worrisome than extinctions. Persistent declines, especially in large populations, indicate a changed ecological context. Even here, distinctions must again be made among declines that are only apparent (in the sense that they are part of habitual cycles or of normal fluctuations), declines that take a population to some lower but still acceptable level, and those that threaten extinction (e.g., by taking the number of individuals below the minimum viable population). Anecdotal reports of population decreases cannot distinguish among these possibilities, and some amphibian populations have shown strong fluctuations in the past.
It is Indisputably true that there is simply not enough long-term scientific data on amphibian populations to enable researches to identify real declines in amphibian populations. Many fairly common amphibian species declared all but extinct after severe declines in the 1950s and 1960s have subsequently recovered, and so might the apparently declining populations that have generated the current appearance of an amphibian crisis. Unfortunately, long-term data will not soon be forthcoming, and postponing environmental action while we wait for it may doom species and whole ecosystems to extinction.
To evaluate these claims, it is useful to make a preliminary distinction that is far too often ignored. A declining population should not be confused with an endangered one. An endangered population is always rare, almost always small, and, by definition, under constant threat of extinction even without a proximate cause in human activities. Its disappearance, however unfortunate, should come as no great surprise. Moreover, chance events—which may indicate nothing about the direction of trends in population size—may lead to its extinction. The probability of extinction due to such random factors depends on the population size and is independent of the prevailing direction of change in that size.
For biologists, population declines are potentially more worrisome than extinctions. Persistent declines, especially in large populations, indicate a changed ecological context. Even here, distinctions must again be made among declines that are only apparent (in the sense that they are part of habitual cycles or of normal fluctuations), declines that take a population to some lower but still acceptable level, and those that threaten extinction (e.g., by taking the number of individuals below the minimum viable population). Anecdotal reports of population decreases cannot distinguish among these possibilities, and some amphibian populations have shown strong fluctuations in the past.
It is Indisputably true that there is simply not enough long-term scientific data on amphibian populations to enable researches to identify real declines in amphibian populations. Many fairly common amphibian species declared all but extinct after severe declines in the 1950s and 1960s have subsequently recovered, and so might the apparently declining populations that have generated the current appearance of an amphibian crisis. Unfortunately, long-term data will not soon be forthcoming, and postponing environmental action while we wait for it may doom species and whole ecosystems to extinction.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) assess the validity of a certain view
(B) distinguish between two phenomena
(C) identify the causes of a problem
(D) describe a disturbing trend
(E) allay concern about a particular phenomenon
(A) assess the validity of a certain view
(B) distinguish between two phenomena
(C) identify the causes of a problem
(D) describe a disturbing trend
(E) allay concern about a particular phenomenon
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following to be true of the environmentalists mentioned in lines 5-6?
(A) They have wrongly chosen to focus on anecdotal reports rather than on the long-term data that are currently available concerning amphibians.
(B) Their recommendations are flawed because their research focuses too narrowly on a single category of animal species.
(C) Their certainty that population declines in general are caused by environmental degradation is not warranted.
(D) They have drawn premature conclusions concerning a crisis in amphibian populations from recent reports of declines.
(E) They have overestimated the effects of chance events on trends in amphibian populations.
(A) They have wrongly chosen to focus on anecdotal reports rather than on the long-term data that are currently available concerning amphibians.
(B) Their recommendations are flawed because their research focuses too narrowly on a single category of animal species.
(C) Their certainty that population declines in general are caused by environmental degradation is not warranted.
(D) They have drawn premature conclusions concerning a crisis in amphibian populations from recent reports of declines.
(E) They have overestimated the effects of chance events on trends in amphibian populations.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following to be true of the amphibian extinctions that have recently been reported?
(A) They have resulted primarily from human activities causing environmental degradation.
(B)They could probably have been prevented if timely action had been taken to protect the habitats of amphibian species.
(C) They should not come as a surprise, because amphibian populations generally have been declining for a number of years.
(D) They have probably been caused by a combination of chance events.
(E) They do not clearly constitute evidence of general environmental degradation.
(A) They have resulted primarily from human activities causing environmental degradation.
(B)They could probably have been prevented if timely action had been taken to protect the habitats of amphibian species.
(C) They should not come as a surprise, because amphibian populations generally have been declining for a number of years.
(D) They have probably been caused by a combination of chance events.
(E) They do not clearly constitute evidence of general environmental degradation.
4. According to the passage, each of the following is true of endangered amphibian species EXCEPT:
(A) They are among the rarest kinds of amphibians.
(B) They generally have populations that are small in size.
(C) They are in constant danger of extinction.
(D) Those with decreasing populations are the most likely candidates for immediate extinction.
(E) The are in danger of extinction due to events that sometimes have nothing to do with human activities.
(A) They are among the rarest kinds of amphibians.
(B) They generally have populations that are small in size.
(C) They are in constant danger of extinction.
(D) Those with decreasing populations are the most likely candidates for immediate extinction.
(E) The are in danger of extinction due to events that sometimes have nothing to do with human activities.
5. Which of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?
(A) A question is raised, a distinction regarding it is made, and the question is answered.
(B) An interpretation is presented, its soundness is examined, and a warning is given.
(C) A situation is described, its consequences are analyzed, and a prediction is made.
(D) Two interpretations of a phenomenon are described, and one of them is rejected as invalid.
(E) Two methods for analyzing a phenomenon are compared, and further study of the phenomenon is recommended.
(A) A question is raised, a distinction regarding it is made, and the question is answered.
(B) An interpretation is presented, its soundness is examined, and a warning is given.
(C) A situation is described, its consequences are analyzed, and a prediction is made.
(D) Two interpretations of a phenomenon are described, and one of them is rejected as invalid.
(E) Two methods for analyzing a phenomenon are compared, and further study of the phenomenon is recommended.
6. Which of the following best describes the function of the sentence in lines 35-38 [Anecdotal reports of population decreases cannot distinguish among these possibilities, and some amphibian populations have shown strong fluctuations in the past.]?
(A) To give an example of a particular kind of study
(B) To cast doubt on an assertion made in the previous sentence
(C) To raise an objection to a view presented in the first paragraph
(D) To provide support for a view presented in the first paragraph
(E) To introduce an idea that will be countered in the following paragraph
(A) To give an example of a particular kind of study
(B) To cast doubt on an assertion made in the previous sentence
(C) To raise an objection to a view presented in the first paragraph
(D) To provide support for a view presented in the first paragraph
(E) To introduce an idea that will be countered in the following paragraph
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BillyZ
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25 Sep 2017, 05:52
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idkksh
Passage: Amphibian Populations
Question: Inference–Extinctions
The Simple Story
According to reports, certain amphibian populations are undergoing drastic decline or even extinction. Environmentalists believe that these changes are due to human activity. The passage explains how to evaluate these claims. First, it draws a distinction between a declining population and an endangered population. Then, it explains that a decline may be worse than an extinction, but may also be harmless. Finally, it concludes that there is not enough data to determine whether the amphibian population is actually declining, and whether that decline represents a crisis. However, since there is limited data, and inaction could cause serious problems, the passage argues that people should still act to protect the amphibians.
Sample Passage Map
Here is one way to map this passage. (Note: abbreviate as desired!)
P1:
- Amph declines & extinctions: bad sign?
- Env.: action needed, declines caused by humans
P2:
- Evaluate env. Claims
- Decline doesn’t = endangered
P3:
- Declines worse than extinctions
- But, some declines are okay
P4:
- Limited data
- Don’t know if amphibians are really declining?
- But: should take action now anyways
Step 1: Identify the Question
The word inferred in the question stem indicates that this is an Inference question.
Step 2: Find the Support
The entire passage deals with the amphibian extinctions, and with the author’s views on population decline and extinction. Check the answer choices to see if they provide more guidance on where to find the answer. The answer choices seem to represent general claims about the author’s beliefs, so review your passage map briefly and be prepared to find support in various places in the passage.
Step 3: Predict an Answer
It’s difficult to predict a specific answer to this question, since the author makes a number of statements about the extinctions and about extinctions in general. Focus on eliminating answer choices that don’t match the author’s claims.
Step 4: Eliminate and Find a Match
(A) This is the viewpoint of the environmentalists mentioned in the first paragraph, not of the author. The author agrees with the environmentalists that action should be taken, but does not commit to a specific viewpoint on why (or even whether) the declines occurred.
(B) The author calls for environmental action in this passage, but does not specify whether this action would involve protecting amphibian habitats.
(C) The author does state that the extinction of an endangered species is not a surprise. However, the author does not apply this statement to amphibians, and in fact, the amphibian population decline is described as recent.
(D) The author states that chance events can lead to extinction. However, the author does not speculate on whether this is true in the case of the amphibians. It most likely is not, since the author claims that chance events can lead to extinction specifically in the case of endangered species, and does not state that the amphibians were previously endangered.
(E) CORRECT. The environmentalists mentioned in the first paragraph claim that the “amphibian crisis”…is an indicator of general and catastrophic environmental degradation due to human activity. However, the author states that declines can have multiple causes, and that in the case of the amphibians, there is too little data to distinguish between these causes.
07 Apr 2020, 13:55
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Harsh2111s
You're not alone in asking about question #6...
coinsy
Question 6
Question 6 asks about the function of the following sentence:
- "Anecdotal reports of population decreases cannot distinguish among these possibilities, and some amphibian populations have shown strong fluctuations in the past."
(B) states that the purpose of this sentence is:
Quote:
The previous sentence is:
- "Even here, distinctions must again be made among declines that are only apparent (in the sense that they are part of habitual cycles or of normal fluctuations), declines that take a population to some lower but still acceptable level, and those that threaten extinction (e.g., by taking the number of individuals below the minimum viable population)."
The assertion made in this sentence is that "distinctions must again be made" among different kinds of declining species. The sentence discussed in question 6 says that we cannot make these distinctions using anecdotal reports.
So, the sentence in question doesn't cast doubt on the assertion made in the previous sentence -- the author still believes that we should make these distinctions. He/she just says that we can't do that with certain kinds of reports.
Compare that to (C):
Quote:
In the first paragraph, the environmentalists claim that reports of amphibian population decline indicate "general and catastrophic environmental degradation due to human activity." By stating that certain reports can't give us all of the information we need to evaluate that claim, the author is raising an objection to the environmentalists' view.
To answer @coinsy's question -- yes, the first paragraph specifies that the environmentalists will only hold their claim if the reported population declines are real. However, being "real" doesn't help to determine which kind of population decline is occurring -- is it part of a normal fluctuation? Or one that will take the population to a low but acceptable level? Or will it truly threaten extinction?
In saying that this determination cannot be made, the author raises an objection even if amphibian populations are declining, as reported.
(C) is the correct answer to question 6.
I hope that helps!
) The first paragraph says the environmentalists are calling it this an "amphibian crisis," which sounds pretty dramatic and premature. To me, it sounds like these environmentalists are a bit excited and overreacting to the reports that populations are declining. They want to get involved and have "immediate environmental action." Let's hold this one.
