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I had the question in the same GMAT Club Verbal CAT before so please check the algorithm to prevent questions from showing up twice.


The questions are 95% alike and also have the same answer.
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this is a poor quality question. The reasons given for crediting D and ruling out A are too similar. the word 'exclusively' does not carry enough weight to merit this reasoning. D also provides no information on the relative timing of the birth of the young birds and rodents and the metamorphoses of the caterpillars. It's also possible that this won't be an issue.
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I think this is a poor-quality question and I don't agree with the explanation. If we look at the current situation, one would wonder what do the birds and rodents feed on when metamorphosis happens.
It is not evident whether the early metamorphosis would have any impact on the birds and rodents, because they still survive in some way even now.
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jeffn
Scientists studying climate change have found that global warming not only increases the temperature of the planet but also leads, on average, to an earlier arrival of the spring season and a later arrival of the autumn season. Though some argue that this effect on the seasons is advantageous because it increases the length of the summer growing season, leaders of the World Wildlife Fund fear that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and will thus soon face extinction.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best evidence in support of the view held by the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund?


A. When spring arrives earlier than usual, most species of hibernating mammals are forced to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual and to find alternative food sources to supplement their regular diets.
B. As the planet's temperature rises, the average global sea surface temperature also rises, endangering several marine organisms that reside near the sea surface and that can only survive within very narrow temperature windows.
C. Many species of salmon rely on seasonal changes in temperature to signal the start of their annual migrations and will leave their freshwater birthplaces early if spring arrives early; as a result, the populations of several types of freshwater insects consumed by those species of salmon will grow exponentially, infesting thousands of acres of crops on which humans rely.
D. The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.
E. As the length of the summer growing season increases, the amount of carbon emissions produced by humans gradually increases, exacerbating the increase in global temperatures that will likely endanger hundreds of animal species.

Dear VeritasKarishma GMATNinja bb generis Bunuel egmat RaviSreerama,
I have doubt in option A and D
Option A- Possibility 1: Mammals will need to find alternate source of food. If food is not available then it will lead to extinction of mammals
Possibility 2: If food is available, then Mammals will survive
Option D- Possibility 1: If metamorphosis is earlier and the time is insufficient for young ones of rodents and birds to feed, then it will cause extinction of many species of rodents and birds
Possibility 2: if metamorphosis is delayed, then extinction wont happen.
So, in both option A and D, there is possibility of extinction and possibility of no extinction.
But answer is D, please suggest.

Thanks in advance for support
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jeffn
Scientists studying climate change have found that global warming not only increases the temperature of the planet but also leads, on average, to an earlier arrival of the spring season and a later arrival of the autumn season. Though some argue that this effect on the seasons is advantageous because it increases the length of the summer growing season, leaders of the World Wildlife Fund fear that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and will thus soon face extinction.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best evidence in support of the view held by the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund?


A. When spring arrives earlier than usual, most species of hibernating mammals are forced to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual and to find alternative food sources to supplement their regular diets.
B. As the planet's temperature rises, the average global sea surface temperature also rises, endangering several marine organisms that reside near the sea surface and that can only survive within very narrow temperature windows.
C. Many species of salmon rely on seasonal changes in temperature to signal the start of their annual migrations and will leave their freshwater birthplaces early if spring arrives early; as a result, the populations of several types of freshwater insects consumed by those species of salmon will grow exponentially, infesting thousands of acres of crops on which humans rely.
D. The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.
E. As the length of the summer growing season increases, the amount of carbon emissions produced by humans gradually increases, exacerbating the increase in global temperatures that will likely endanger hundreds of animal species.

Dear VeritasKarishma GMATNinja bb generis Bunuel egmat RaviSreerama,
I have doubt in option A and D
Option A- Possibility 1: Mammals will need to find alternate source of food. If food is not available then it will lead to extinction of mammals
Possibility 2: If food is available, then Mammals will survive
Option D- Possibility 1: If metamorphosis is earlier and the time is insufficient for young ones of rodents and birds to feed, then it will cause extinction of many species of rodents and birds
Possibility 2: if metamorphosis is delayed, then extinction wont happen.
So, in both option A and D, there is possibility of extinction and possibility of no extinction.
But answer is D, please suggest.

Thanks in advance for support


WWF fears that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and will thus soon face extinction.

We need to strengthen that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and hence become extinct.

A. When spring arrives earlier than usual, most species of hibernating mammals are forced to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual and to find alternative food sources to supplement their regular diets.

With earlier spring, animals will emerge from hibernation earlier and will have to find alternative food sources to supplement their diets. This does not indicate that they will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths. They might be able to find alternative food sources. This option tells us that altered season lengths brings in a problem for animals but doesn't say that it is likely that they will not be able to manage it.

B. As the planet's temperature rises, the average global sea surface temperature also rises, endangering several marine organisms that reside near the sea surface and that can only survive within very narrow temperature windows.

How do the altered season lengths impact, this doesn't say.

C. Many species of salmon rely on seasonal changes in temperature to signal the start of their annual migrations and will leave their freshwater birthplaces early if spring arrives early; as a result, the populations of several types of freshwater insects consumed by those species of salmon will grow exponentially, infesting thousands of acres of crops on which humans rely.

This says that altered season lengths may impact humans. Irrelevant.

D. The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.

Caterpillars morph into butterflies on arrival of spring (seasonal changes trigger it). If spring arrives early, they will turn into butterflies early. The young of many species feed EXCLUSIVELY on caterpillars. With the availability of caterpillars reducing to a shorter time, it is likely that the young of many species will not survive and may lead to extinction. Provides much better support.

E. As the length of the summer growing season increases, the amount of carbon emissions produced by humans gradually increases, exacerbating the increase in global temperatures that will likely endanger hundreds of animal species.

Again, temp increase is said to endanger animal species. Impact of change in season lengths is indirect.

Answer (D)
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jeffn
Scientists studying climate change have found that global warming not only increases the temperature of the planet but also leads, on average, to an earlier arrival of the spring season and a later arrival of the autumn season. Though some argue that this effect on the seasons is advantageous because it increases the length of the summer growing season, leaders of the World Wildlife Fund fear that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and will thus soon face extinction.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best evidence in support of the view held by the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund?


A. When spring arrives earlier than usual, most species of hibernating mammals are forced to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual and to find alternative food sources to supplement their regular diets.
B. As the planet's temperature rises, the average global sea surface temperature also rises, endangering several marine organisms that reside near the sea surface and that can only survive within very narrow temperature windows.
C. Many species of salmon rely on seasonal changes in temperature to signal the start of their annual migrations and will leave their freshwater birthplaces early if spring arrives early; as a result, the populations of several types of freshwater insects consumed by those species of salmon will grow exponentially, infesting thousands of acres of crops on which humans rely.
D. The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.
E. As the length of the summer growing season increases, the amount of carbon emissions produced by humans gradually increases, exacerbating the increase in global temperatures that will likely endanger hundreds of animal species.

Dear VeritasKarishma GMATNinja bb generis Bunuel egmat RaviSreerama,
I have doubt in option A and D
Option A- Possibility 1: Mammals will need to find alternate source of food. If food is not available then it will lead to extinction of mammals
Possibility 2: If food is available, then Mammals will survive
Option D- Possibility 1: If metamorphosis is earlier and the time is insufficient for young ones of rodents and birds to feed, then it will cause extinction of many species of rodents and birds
Possibility 2: if metamorphosis is delayed, then extinction wont happen.
So, in both option A and D, there is possibility of extinction and possibility of no extinction.
But answer is D, please suggest.

Thanks in advance for support

We are given that metamorphosis is triggered by season change. We are also given that spring arrives early. It is reasonable to say that caterpillars morph into butterflies early. Hence there are no two possibilities in option (D).
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I think this is a poor-quality question and the explanation isn't clear enough, please elaborate.
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I think this is a poor-quality question and I don't agree with the explanation. I don't find the answer convincing enough, atleast not over B and even that I am not convinced. Could something eb added in the options or question to make it a bit more specific?

How do we know that the change in metamorphosis of caterpillars will be negative particularly?
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Hi. Here is a more detailed discussion with the explanation by GMAT Ninja and other much smarter people than I:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/scientists-s ... 42156.html

As to why B is wrong:

(B) This example shows how the increase in the temperature of the planet can endanger certain species, but leaders of the WWF are concerned about the altered season lengths, not about the increase in the temperature of the planet. This evidence suggests that global warming can be dangerous for certain species, but it does not support the reasoning of the WWF leaders. (B) can be eliminated.

Quote:
How do we know that the change in metamorphosis of caterpillars will be negative particularly?


Answer choice D answers Your question:
The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.

Option D mirrors the concern of the World Wildlife Fund leaders regarding the inability of species to adapt to altered season lengths leading to potential extinction. This option explains that the timing of caterpillar metamorphosis into butterflies, which is accelerated by earlier spring temperatures, could disrupt the food supply for the young of many bird and rodent species. These species rely exclusively on caterpillars for their early diet. If caterpillars metamorphose into butterflies before the young birds and rodents are born or ready to feed, these species may face starvation and significant population decline, possibly leading to extinction. This scenario clearly demonstrates a direct impact of altered seasonal timing on the survival of certain species, thus substantiating the WWF leaders' fears that animals will not be able to adapt quickly enough to the shifting seasons caused by global warming.

sssdd1234
I think this is a poor-quality question and I don't agree with the explanation. I don't find the answer convincing enough, atleast not over B and even that I am not convinced. Could something eb added in the options or question to make it a bit more specific?

How do we know that the change in metamorphosis of caterpillars will be negative particularly?
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I think this is a poor-quality question and I don't agree with the explanation.
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Hi. do you have any more details/feedback about what may be the case/issue?
Also, did you see the explanation by GMAT Ninja above?

Dbrunik
I think this is a poor-quality question and I don't agree with the explanation.
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I don’t quite agree with the solution. There are much more direct options in the answers
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Hi. You can check this bigger/fuller discussion: https://gmatclub.com/forum/scientists-s ... 42156.html of the same question.

Let me know if you have any specific questions/comments/suggestions!


TN1
I don’t quite agree with the solution. There are much more direct options in the answers
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