Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark and to display

Question

Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark and to display it at the aquarium, in the hope that doing so will help raise public awareness that this species of shark is in danger of extinction. But few such sharks have ever survived in captivity for more than one month. In all likelihood, then, this plan would amount to a waste of the aquarium’s financial resources, which would be better directed toward other efforts to preserve the great white shark.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Bayside Aquarium’s shark habitat would resemble the species’ natural environment far more closely than the shark habitats provided previously at other facilities.

(B) Most visitors to the aquarium are already aware that the great white shark is an endangered species.

(C) Certain other species of sharks are at greater risk of extinction than the great white shark.

(D) The expense involved in capturing a great white shark is difficult to predict.

(E) Bayside Aquarium’s popularity is due primarily to its large variety of sea life.

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arushi118 · Answer

If the habitat of the white shark resembles its natural habitat, then it is much more likely to survive here - And if the white shark is able to survive enough time to raise awareness, then the financial resources of the Aquarium were not a waste - hence, weakening the argument.
Hence, it should be A.

pappal · Answer

P-Display of white shark in aquarium-->raise public awareness about its extinction
counter P- these sharks hardly survive more than a month in captivity
C-waste of financial resources
We need to select a choice that negates that the plan isn't the waste of financial resources.
B actually supports the conclusion, C,D,E are irrelevant to the conclusion.
so best choice is A which actually is in opposition to the counter premise on which the conclusion is based, saying the new proposed captivity will be almost identical to the natural habitat of the sharks.
so A

Dereno · Answer

Bayside aquarium plans to capture white sharks and display it to generate public awareness - as this shark is considered a species on the verge of extinction.

But, only few sharks have survived more than a month in captivity- as the virtual environment does not coincide with the natural environment where the sharks live. They further go a step further, to make a statement that this plan is waste of financial resources and some more fruitful and concrete steps can be taken to preserve and protect white sharks.

We need to find a weakening statement.

A) Bayside Aquarium’s shark habitat would resemble the species’ natural environment far more closely than the shark habitats provided previously at other facilities.

If the Bayside aquarium is able to provide a habitat that exactly matches the species natural environment, then the chances of survival beyond a month increases dramatically. This, will make the public awareness drive a success. Moreover, the financial resources spent in this project is showing visible signs of improvements and success. Hence, correct.

(B) Most visitors to the aquarium are already aware that the great white shark is an endangered species.

If most of the people are aware that this great white shark is an endangered species, then the need for sensitization or educating them is of no use. The crux of the project seems to go in waste. Hence, wrong.

(C) Certain other species of sharks are at greater risk of extinction than the great white shark.

The option compares the degree of extinction risk with respect to great white shark. But, the question is not comparing two different species, but the feasibility of a proposed project and its implications. Hence, wrong .

(D) The expense involved in capturing a great white shark is difficult to predict.

The option is wrong in two ways, if it’s difficult to quantify - how can we come up with a valid reason to contradict. The expenses involved in capturing or the profit generated from this project is not the question in place. Hence, wrong.

(E) Bayside Aquarium’s popularity is due primarily to its large variety of sea life.

This is a general filler statement. Which is of less relevance to the question in hand. Hence, wrong.

Option A

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The correct answer is (A).

The argument depends on the assumption that a great white shark would not survive at Bayside Aquarium long enough to have any significant impact on public awareness. Choice (A) provides evidence that helps refute his assumption. (Common sense tells us that a captive animal is more likely to survive in an environment similar to its natural habitat than in a different environment.)

Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark and to display

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Bayside Aquarium plans to capture a great white shark and to display

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

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