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15 Feb 2018, 19:33
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The popular belief that a snake's age can be determined by counting the number of layers of scales on its body is generally true. However, to help regulate its internal temperature, the black mamba snake often sheds its outermost layers of scales when the temperature exceeds approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the snake with fewer layers of scales than it would otherwise have. Thus, if a black mamba snake has frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, counting the number of layers of scales on its body will most likely result in an inaccurate calculation of the snake's age.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument is based?
A. A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
B. A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
C. All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
D. Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
E. The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument is based?
A. A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
B. A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
C. All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
D. Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
E. The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
15 Feb 2018, 19:33
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Official Solution:
The popular belief that a snake's age can be determined by counting the number of layers of scales on its body is generally true. However, to help regulate its internal temperature, the black mamba snake often sheds its outermost layers of scales when the temperature exceeds approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the snake with fewer layers of scales than it would otherwise have. Thus, if a black mamba snake has frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, counting the number of layers of scales on its body will most likely result in an inaccurate calculation of the snake's age.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument is based?
A. A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
B. A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
C. All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
D. Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
E. The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
General Approach
On Critical Reasoning questions, it's important to start by identifying the main reasoning and conclusion of the argument. Then look at the answer choices to see which one either supports or undermines the argument. An assumption in a GMAT argument is usually something that the author takes for granted - a fact that is not stated in the argument, but that needs to be true in order for the conclusion to be valid.
Correct Answer
Answer (B): A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
The author's conclusion is that counting the number of layers of scales on a black mamba will often result in an inaccurate calculation of the snake's age if it has been frequently exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The premise used to support this is the observation that a black mamba often sheds its outermost layers of scales at such temperatures. For the argument to hold, it must be assumed that these shed layers of scales don't simply get replaced every time they are shed, or else counting the layers of scales would still provide an accurate estimate of the snake's age.
Incorrect Answer
Answer (A): A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
This answer would neither support nor undermine the argument. The length of exposure to high temperatures is not relevant to the conclusion as it focuses more on frequency of exposure.
Answer (C): All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
The argument does not rely on this assumption. Instead, the author assumes that many black mambas have shed scales, but the argument does not require that all have done so.
Answer (D): Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
The author does not claim that temperature is the only factor that could cause a black mamba to shed scales, only that it is a factor that often does so.
Answer (E): The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
The exact rate at which a black mamba grows new layers of scales is not specified in the argument and is not relevant to the conclusion. The argument only requires that black mambas grow their layers of scales at some consistent rate, whatever that rate may be.
Answer: B
The popular belief that a snake's age can be determined by counting the number of layers of scales on its body is generally true. However, to help regulate its internal temperature, the black mamba snake often sheds its outermost layers of scales when the temperature exceeds approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the snake with fewer layers of scales than it would otherwise have. Thus, if a black mamba snake has frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, counting the number of layers of scales on its body will most likely result in an inaccurate calculation of the snake's age.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument is based?
A. A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
B. A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
C. All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
D. Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
E. The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
General Approach
On Critical Reasoning questions, it's important to start by identifying the main reasoning and conclusion of the argument. Then look at the answer choices to see which one either supports or undermines the argument. An assumption in a GMAT argument is usually something that the author takes for granted - a fact that is not stated in the argument, but that needs to be true in order for the conclusion to be valid.
Correct Answer
Answer (B): A black mamba snake will not consistently regenerate the layers of scales it sheds after exposure to high temperatures.
The author's conclusion is that counting the number of layers of scales on a black mamba will often result in an inaccurate calculation of the snake's age if it has been frequently exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The premise used to support this is the observation that a black mamba often sheds its outermost layers of scales at such temperatures. For the argument to hold, it must be assumed that these shed layers of scales don't simply get replaced every time they are shed, or else counting the layers of scales would still provide an accurate estimate of the snake's age.
Incorrect Answer
Answer (A): A black mamba snake must be exposed to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours before shedding its outermost layers of scales.
This answer would neither support nor undermine the argument. The length of exposure to high temperatures is not relevant to the conclusion as it focuses more on frequency of exposure.
Answer (C): All black mamba snakes that have frequently been exposed to temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit have shed at least one layer of scales.
The argument does not rely on this assumption. Instead, the author assumes that many black mambas have shed scales, but the argument does not require that all have done so.
Answer (D): Exposure to temperatures exceeding approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
The author does not claim that temperature is the only factor that could cause a black mamba to shed scales, only that it is a factor that often does so.
Answer (E): The black mamba snake grows no more than two new layers of scales on its body each year.
The exact rate at which a black mamba grows new layers of scales is not specified in the argument and is not relevant to the conclusion. The argument only requires that black mambas grow their layers of scales at some consistent rate, whatever that rate may be.
Answer: B
21 Mar 2018, 01:50
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I Chose Option D on the basis of cause and effect relation. ie.It's only to exposure to 120 degree heat that causes Black Mamba to shed it's layer's.
120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
If we negate doesn't the conclusion fall apart. Doesn't this option needs to be true for the conclusion to follow, Please explain?
120 degrees Fahrenheit is the only environmental factor that triggers black mamba snake to shed its outermost layers of scales.
If we negate doesn't the conclusion fall apart. Doesn't this option needs to be true for the conclusion to follow, Please explain?
