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30 May 2026, 07:36
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77% (01:33) correct
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The everyday behavior of whales is particularly difficult to study because introducing novel stimuli, such as divers or submarines, into the whales' environment causes whales to behave in unusual ways. Some biologists plan to train sea lions to carry video cameras on their backs and, on command, to swim along with whales. They argue that since whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby, using the sea lions to film the whales would allow biologists to study the everyday behavior of whales.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
30 May 2026, 08:56
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The everyday behavior of whales is particularly difficult to study because introducing novel stimuli, such as divers or submarines, into the whales' environment causes whales to behave in unusual ways. Some biologists plan to train sea lions to carry video cameras on their backs and, on command, to swim along with whales. They argue that since whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby, using the sea lions to film the whales would allow biologists to study the everyday behavior of whales.
For best results in answering an Assumption question, before going to the answer choices, we can note the conclusion of the argument, the support for the conclusion, and how the reasoning of the argument works.
Conclusion:
using the sea lions to film the whales would allow biologists to study the everyday behavior of whales
Support:
whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby
We see that the biologists' reasoning is basically that it will be possible to study the everyday behavior of whales by having sea lions with cameras film whales because whales will behave in their usual ways because they are accustomed to the presence of sea lions.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
The correct answer to the question will state something that must be true for the premise to effectively support the conclusion.
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
The argument works regardless of whether whale often act aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines.
After all, even if they don't behave aggressively in the presence of those things, as long as they behave normally around seals, the plan could work.
Eliminate.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
This is interesting.
The evidence supporting the conclusion is that whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby.
At the same time, that doesn't mean that whales are accustomed to the presence of trained sea lions with cameras on their backs following human commands.
So, if the behavior of sea lions under human command will NOT be within the range of sea lion behavior to which whales are accustomed, then it may not be possible for sea lions to film the everyday behavior of whales. After all, in that case, the whales may behave unusually because of the "novel stimuli" of sea lions behaving unusually.
So, for the plan to work, this choice has to be true.
Keep.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
As long as the sea lions choose to film the whales, the plan could work even if the sea lions will be aware that they are carrying cameras.
So, this doesn't have to be true for the argument to work.
Eliminate.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
The point of the plan is not to film at closer range than divers can. It's to film without causing whales to behave unusually.
So, the plan could work even if this isn't true.
Eliminate.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
The point of the plan isn't to do what whales prefer. The point is to film whales in a way such that the whales behave normally.
So, even if whales don't prefer the presence of seals to that of divers or submarines, the plan could still work if the whales behave normally around seals.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: B
For best results in answering an Assumption question, before going to the answer choices, we can note the conclusion of the argument, the support for the conclusion, and how the reasoning of the argument works.
Conclusion:
using the sea lions to film the whales would allow biologists to study the everyday behavior of whales
Support:
whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby
We see that the biologists' reasoning is basically that it will be possible to study the everyday behavior of whales by having sea lions with cameras film whales because whales will behave in their usual ways because they are accustomed to the presence of sea lions.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
The correct answer to the question will state something that must be true for the premise to effectively support the conclusion.
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
The argument works regardless of whether whale often act aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines.
After all, even if they don't behave aggressively in the presence of those things, as long as they behave normally around seals, the plan could work.
Eliminate.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
This is interesting.
The evidence supporting the conclusion is that whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby.
At the same time, that doesn't mean that whales are accustomed to the presence of trained sea lions with cameras on their backs following human commands.
So, if the behavior of sea lions under human command will NOT be within the range of sea lion behavior to which whales are accustomed, then it may not be possible for sea lions to film the everyday behavior of whales. After all, in that case, the whales may behave unusually because of the "novel stimuli" of sea lions behaving unusually.
So, for the plan to work, this choice has to be true.
Keep.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
As long as the sea lions choose to film the whales, the plan could work even if the sea lions will be aware that they are carrying cameras.
So, this doesn't have to be true for the argument to work.
Eliminate.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
The point of the plan is not to film at closer range than divers can. It's to film without causing whales to behave unusually.
So, the plan could work even if this isn't true.
Eliminate.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
The point of the plan isn't to do what whales prefer. The point is to film whales in a way such that the whales behave normally.
So, even if whales don't prefer the presence of seals to that of divers or submarines, the plan could still work if the whales behave normally around seals.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: B
General Discussion
30 May 2026, 16:45
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The everyday behavior of whales is particularly difficult to study because introducing novel stimuli, such as divers or submarines, into the whales' environment causes whales to behave in unusual ways. Some biologists plan to train sea lions to carry video cameras on their backs and, on command, to swim along with whales. They argue that since whales are accustomed to there being sea lions nearby, using the sea lions to film the whales would allow biologists to study the everyday behavior of whales.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
The biologists argue that sea lions will not disturb the whales because whales are used to sea lions being nearby. The key assumption is that trained sea lions carrying cameras and following commands will still behave like sea lions the whales are used to, not like a strange new stimulus that changes whale behavior.
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
This is not required. The argument only needs divers and submarines to make whales behave unusually, not necessarily aggressively.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
This is correct. If commanded sea lions behave in a way that whales are already used to, then filming with sea lions may allow biologists to observe ordinary whale behavior. If commanded sea lions behave unusually, they may disturb the whales just as divers or submarines do.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
This is not required. The issue is not whether the sea lions are aware of the cameras, but whether their presence and behavior affect the whales.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
This is not required. The argument is about avoiding disturbance, not about getting closer footage.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
This is too strong. The argument does not need whales to prefer sea lions; it only needs whales not to treat the trained sea lions as unusual stimuli.
Answer: (B)
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the biologists' reasoning depends?
The biologists argue that sea lions will not disturb the whales because whales are used to sea lions being nearby. The key assumption is that trained sea lions carrying cameras and following commands will still behave like sea lions the whales are used to, not like a strange new stimulus that changes whale behavior.
(A) Whales will often react aggressively in the presence of divers and submarines although aggressive behavior is unusual for whales.
This is not required. The argument only needs divers and submarines to make whales behave unusually, not necessarily aggressively.
(B) The behavior of the sea lions under human command will be within the range of sea lion behavior to which the whales are accustomed.
This is correct. If commanded sea lions behave in a way that whales are already used to, then filming with sea lions may allow biologists to observe ordinary whale behavior. If commanded sea lions behave unusually, they may disturb the whales just as divers or submarines do.
(C) The trained sea lions will not be aware that they are carrying video cameras on their backs.
This is not required. The issue is not whether the sea lions are aware of the cameras, but whether their presence and behavior affect the whales.
(D) Sea lions carrying video cameras will be able to film whales at a much closer range than divers can.
This is not required. The argument is about avoiding disturbance, not about getting closer footage.
(E) Whales prefer the presence of sea lions to that of either divers or submarines.
This is too strong. The argument does not need whales to prefer sea lions; it only needs whales not to treat the trained sea lions as unusual stimuli.
Answer: (B)
