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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 19:41
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Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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Option B, C, D, E actually do not tell anything strongly how they can support the hypothesis that rodents put their seeds for future food supplies, and C, D are just statement which actually weekens the hypothesis.

Option A is supporting the hyypothesis that they are burying the seeds for future needs also, whch is why they are putting it in even regions with low plant density so if in future their is some problem with current location they can move their.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 20:29
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(A) Abundant vegetation would mean there is less of a necessity to bury seeds, which aligns with the hypothesis. CORRECT ANSWER
(B) This doesn't influence the hypothesis.
(C) This doesn't influence the hypothesis.
(D) This could eventually mean that due to less rain, rodents need to put even more effort into promote growth. It's possible, but this level of reasoning (or therefor level of development of instinct) is rather improbable.
(E) This doesn't influence the hypothesis.
Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 20:35
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NOTES:
Rodents bury seeds underground even when food is plentiful
they rarely recover all the seeds they store

Researchers hypothesize - not only for food storage but to grow plants around rodent home areas. This would long term boost their supply.

ASK:
What will support this hypothesis

SOLVE:

A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
- Somewhat. Shows they might be wanting to grow plants. Doesnt mention homes though
B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
- Irrelevant - No
C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
- This does the opposite and does not support hypothesis - no
D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
-No-This could be related to food needs. Also nothing about home. And its a little off topic.
E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
- Somewhat. But we are talking about areas without rodents and they hypothesis is related to rodent homes.

A is most likely

ANSWER: A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 21:15
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Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

The passage explains that rodents bury seeds as a future storage and also to promote new plant growths to secure their future food requirement.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis? Lets analyze statements

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
This can be established as rodents store seeds to promote new plants growth and therefore in low vegetation areas they will be burying seeds. Keep thi option
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
No hypothesis was made for other animals in passage. So can't be followed. Eliminate
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
Passage say they bury at shallow depth it weakens the hypothesis. Eliminate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
Can't be followed from passage. Eliminate.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
Irrelevant and can't be followed from passage. Eliminate
Correct answer is A.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 21:41
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"Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply."


Hypothesis: "seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply." -> "way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply."

So, the researchers says that the goal is to "plant trees" to boost future food supply, not only to currently storage food.

"Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?"

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.

That sounds support: if the rodents plant to have a higher food supply, it would be more important in places with low density (and, then, lower food availability). Also, If the goal was only store food, the density would be irrelevant. Let's keep this option and analyze the next ones.


(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.

This answer choice looks really not useful. It could even weaken the hypothesis "the rodents was only trying to storage food, nothing else, but they could rarely recover because other animals ate it". Wrong answer.

(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.

This answer choice looks really not useful. Wrong answer.

(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.

This answer choice looks really not useful. Wrong answer.

(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
This answer choice looks really not useful nor related. Wrong answer.

Therefore:
Answer = A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 22:01
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A is the supportive choice because where there is low plant density, rodents will support the vegetation there compared to other choices like B,C,D, and E which oppose the way to promote new plant growth. If the seeds are eaten up, or if germination cannot happen, if rainfall is scarce so how will it promote growth.
Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 22:03
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lets analyse the answer choices:

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation. Correct

(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals. : opposite plants will not grow then

(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate. opposite, plants will not grow then

(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce. opposite, if rainfall is scarce then plants will not grow, not desired result.

(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects. irrelevant
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 22:35
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A) Correct.
Rodents burying seeds in low plant-density areas supports the idea that they promote new plant growth where it’s needed most. This directly strengthens the hypothesis.

(B)
Seeds eaten by other animals show loss, not growth promotion, so it doesn’t support the hypothesis.

(C)
Deep burial preventing germination weakens the idea that seed burying promotes growth.

(D)
More seed burying during dry years doesn’t directly show that burying causes plant growth.

(E)
Seed dispersal by wind and insects without rodents doesn’t prove rodents improve plant growth, so it’s irrelevant.

Answer: option (A).
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 23:22
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The hypothesis claims that rodents bury seeds not just for storage, but also to help plants grow around their home, which could increase their future food supply.
(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.

This strongly supports the hypothesis.
If rodents are deliberately planting seeds where few plants exist, it suggests they are encouraging new plant growth, which matches the idea of boosting their future food supply.

Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 23:26
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Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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To strengthen --> "seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply"

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
--> Correct. Planting seeds in areas of low plant density would boost food supply over the existing supply.

(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
--> Irrelevant

(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
--> Seed germination is directly not in question here

(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
--> Even if they bury the trees might not grow hence the plan would fail

(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
--> Irrelevant to the argument.

Option A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 23:52
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The hypothesis suggests that rodents bury seeds not just to store food but also to help new plants grow near their homes, ensuring more food in the future. To support this, we need evidence that their seed-burying behavior actually encourages plant growth where it's beneficial.

Option (A) shows that rodents bury seeds in places with fewer plants, which would help increase vegetation in those areas—exactly what the hypothesis suggests. The other choices either weaken the idea (like seeds being eaten or buried too deep) or are irrelevant (like how seeds are dispersed without rodents).

So, (A) best supports the idea that rodents bury seeds to promote future plant growth.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 09 Jul 2025, 23:55
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The argument suggests that rodents also bury seeds to help more plants grow and asks for support (to strengthen this idea). I thought choice A was probably the best option because it shows that rodents actively think about where to bury seeds so the plants can grow. While choice D has some potential, it doesn’t indicate that rodents are intentionally considering plant growth.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 00:08
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Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. (P)
Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply. (C)

Seeds (Plan) -> Food, plant growth, future food supply (Goals)

If any option we can show, plant and food supply are getting strengthened, that would be the answer.

A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 00:13
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Conclusion: Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
This supports the conclusion --> right answer

(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
Irrelevant

(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
This actually provides more info but is irrelevant

(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
Irrelevant to the conclusion

(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
Irrelevant
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 00:27
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Let's evaluate the options one by one;

A. Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation. This seems like a probable answer but we need to evaluate all options before confirming to this one. CORRECT
B. Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals. This would not strengthen the hypothesis. Even if the animals eat the seeds, it is not of much value.
C. Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate. This would not strengthen but rather weaken the hypothesis. If it does not germinate, then the hypothesis that rodents do it to promote new plant growth would be weakened.
D. Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce. This adds value to a certain extent, but if we analyse it, if the rainfall is scarce, trees would not grow even if the rodents bury the seeds.
E. In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects. Seeds' dispersal is not the main theme of the passage.

Option A appears to be the best choice, as it directly supports the hypothesis. The hypothesis states that the rodents do not recover all the seeds to promote new plant growth; if they do so in a place where vegetation is low, it would directly add value to the hypothesis.
Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 00:56
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(A) This directly implies that rodents are intentionally burying for promoting new plant growth where vegetation is scarce. Correct

(B) This is a weakener. If seeds are dug up, they wont form a new plant. Eliminate

(C) The rodent under discussion bury seeds in shallow underground. Also whether the depth is small enough for seeds to germinate is not clear. Eliminate

(D) This supports the storage aspect, but undermines plant growth view. If rainfall is scarce, plant growth becomes harder. Eliminate

(E) Other ways of seed dispersal is irrelevant to this discussion. Eliminate

Answer: A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 01:04
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Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
[Correct option. If Rodents choose low vegetation areas to bury more seeds than abundant areas it is indication that they want more vegetation trhu their action of burying seeds. This supports what statement is saying about boosting food supply.]
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
[out of scope]
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
[goes against the statement's claim of "shallow"]
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
[This is tempting option. But they bury more seed during scares rainfall might be anticipating food scarcity next year etc. If it was other way round, it might have made more sense to associate this behaviour with boosting plant growth rather than for food reasons.]
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
[out of scope]
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Ans: A

Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store.
Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?
An option that shows the relationship between burying the seeds and boosting the future food supply could be the right answer that supports the hypothesis.

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
If this is the case, then it shows clearly that the activity of rodents will increase the future food supply in that area. (correct)

(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
this option says that "some of the seeds are eaten," but what about the impact of the rest of the seeds? This doesn't provide any relationship between the future food supply and rodent activity.

(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
If anything, this option weakens the hypothesis by saying that seeds are buried so underground that they can't germinate-- > no future food supply

(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
Seasonality of the activity is not discussed, and also if this is true, then it shows that the rodents are planning for food for future but not through germination or growing plants but storing more to battle the season in which they might have scarcity of food.

(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.
Rodent are absent, and other mediums of seed dispersal are not part of the hypothesis.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 03:33
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Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.-- supports the idea that it helps to secure future food supply
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.-- doesn't tell about plant growth
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.-- weakens
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.- doesn't link to more burying around home
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.- doesn't tell if rodent behaviour is intentional

Ans A
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 8): Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow 10 Jul 2025, 03:36
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A- this is not talking about seed burying function i.e. seeds in shallow underground to new plant growth, so eliminated
B- this may be true but not talking about seed burying function as a way to promote new plant growth - eliminated
C- this is telling us that seeds in shallow underground is also a way to promote new plant growth along with food storage- Keep it
D-concern is not about to bury more or few seeds by rodents - eliminated
E- seed dispersal is completely irrelevant
option C
Bunuel
Certain rodents bury seeds in shallow underground caches even when food is plentiful, and they rarely recover all the seeds they store. Researchers hypothesize that seed-burying functions not only as food storage but also as a way to promote new plant growth around the rodents’ home areas, thereby boosting their future food supply.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Rodents are more likely to bury seeds in areas where plant density is low than in areas with abundant vegetation.
(B) Some of the seeds buried by rodents are occasionally dug up and eaten by other animals.
(C) Seeds buried in deep caches are often too far down to germinate.
(D) Rodents tend to bury more seeds during years when rainfall is scarce.
(E) In areas where rodents are absent, most seed dispersal occurs via wind and insects.


 


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