The arctic curlew, a once common wading species in the tundra, has

Question

The arctic curlew, a once common wading species in the tundra, has reached endangered status in a mere few decades. Those who account for the sudden loss of the bird do so in terms of either pollution or climate change. Fagen notes how hydrocarbons from oil tankers have increased in a proportion commensurate with the decline in the number of arctic curlew. He believes that the birds not only ingest hydrocarbons while wading in polluted water but that they also feed on worms and small fish that themselves have accrued modest amounts of hydrocarbons. Miller, on the other hand, believes that climate change alone can account for the depletion of the arctic curlew. She argues that since many of the areas in which it once fed no longer provide adequate sustenance, the bird has been forced to change migratory paths and must land in a foreign ecosystem where it is unable find adequate nutrition.

Both theories, however, are somewhat correct but not in a way that either Fagen or Miller would have likely anticipated. The theory positing that the hydrocarbons birds ingest affect their ability to navigate contains elements relating to both climate change and pollution. For example, when a curlew ingests tainted fish, its ability to navigate for several hours afterwards is diminished and it will often veer from its traditional path. Where at one point such deviations would not have affected the bird’s ability to forage, climate change has resulted in a significant diminishment of areas capable of providing sufficient sustenance for the arctic curlew. As a result, it often succumbs to starvation.   1 
1 The theory offered in the second paragraph differs most from Miller’s theory in regards to the

A type of sustenance that the curlew attempts to find
B reason the arctic curlew veers from its traditional flight path
C influence of oil tankers on the curlew’s ability to make navigational decisions
D the amount of area available to a migrating curlew
E extent to which its navigational course is affected by its environment

2 
2 According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is most consistent with which of the following?

A Fagen’s theory
B Miller’s theory
C A theory with which the passage disagrees
D A decrease in hydrocarbons
E A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition

3 
3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

A To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory
B To highlight shortcomings in two theories and to support a third theory
C To contrast two theories and show how together both are sufficient
D To discuss how a third theory is similar to two competing theories
E To introduce three theories and describe notable flaws in each

Skywalker18 · Accepted Answer

All correct in 6 mins 40 seconds, including 3 mins to read.

1 The theory offered in the second paragraph differs most from Miller’s theory in regards to the

A type of sustenance that the curlew attempts to find
B reason the arctic curlew veers from its traditional flight path
C influence of oil tankers on the curlew’s ability to make navigational decisions
D the amount of area available to a migrating curlew
E extent to which its navigational course is affected by its environment

Miller -->  since many of the areas in which it once fed no longer provide adequate sustenance , the bird has been forced to change migratory paths and must land in a foreign ecosystem where it is unable find adequate nutrition.

Theory offered in 2nd paragraph -
when a curlew ingests tainted fish,  its ability to navigate for several hours afterwards is diminished and it will often veer from its traditional path . Where at one point such deviations would not have affected the bird’s ability to forage, climate change has resulted in a significant diminishment of areas capable of providing sufficient sustenance for the arctic curlew.

Answer B

2 According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is most consistent with which of the following?

A Fagen’s theory
B Miller’s theory
C A theory with which the passage disagrees
D A decrease in hydrocarbons
E A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition

Both theories, however, are somewhat correct but not in a way that either Fagen or Miller would have likely anticipated. The loss of navigational ability can be attributed to factor described in Fagen's theory(ingestion of hydrocarbon hampers navigation)

3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

A To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory - Correct
B To highlight shortcomings in two theories and to support a third theory -- shortcomings are not highlighted
C To contrast two theories and show how together both are sufficient -- even together the two theories are not sufficient in the original way 
D To discuss how a third theory is similar to two competing theories -- Incorrect
E To introduce three theories and describe notable flaws in each -- no flaw in third was stated

Both theories, however, are somewhat correct but not in a way that either Fagen or Miller would have likely anticipated. The first line of second paragraph states the essence.

Valhalla · Answer

Dear experts,

Please explain question 3. Thanks.
I have chosen answer C: Because the first paragraph compare 2 theories and the second paragraph, it states "Both theories, however, are somewhat correct but not in a way that either Fagen or Miller would have likely anticipated" - I have concluded that it needs both theories to be correct.

Please explain ans: A

Thanks

goforgmat · Answer

C states that together they are sufficient to explain a phenomenon. The passage doesn't state. 
Only few elements are correct from both the theories. 
Points from first theory that is consistent with the third one - hydrocarbons impairing navigational skills. 
Points from second theory that is consistent with the third one - when they divert from their usual path , non availability of food due to climate change.

These are the only points that are in agreement with the third one. 
Hence A is right.

abhi88 · Answer

2 According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is most consistent with which of the following?

A Fagen’s theory- Fagen's theory is related to navigation and explains why curlew suffers navigational issue. Miller's theory explains loss of areas capable of providing sufficient sustenance- correct.
B Miller’s theory- consistent with the "significant diminishment of areas capable of providing sufficient sustenance for the arctic curlew", not with the navigational issue.
C A theory with which the passage disagrees
D A decrease in hydrocarbons
E A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition

3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

A To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory- Correct
B To highlight  shortcomings  in two theories and to support a third theory
C To  contrast two theories  and show how together both are sufficient
D To discuss how a third theory is similar to two competing theories- out
E To introduce three theories and describe notable flaws in each- out

jawele · Answer

Passage summary:
1) Introduces a problem: the population of the arctic curlew has contracted. There are two theories to explain this:
a) Fagen explains the observation in terms of polluting factors;
b) Miller does the same in terms of a broader explanation - climate change

2) The author claims that both theories are correct in some way because his or her theory shows that the two are interrelated to explain the cause underlying the decrease in the arctic curlew.

1 The theory offered in the second paragraph  differs  most from Miller’s theory in regards to the
 Relevant text: She argues that since many of the  areas  in which it once fed  no longer provide adequate sustenance , the bird has been  forced to change migratory paths  <...> For example, when a curlew  ingests  tainted fish, its  ability to navigate for several hours afterwards is diminished  and it will often veer from its traditional path. 
A type of sustenance that the curlew attempts to find  agrees with Miller's 
B reason the arctic curlew veers from its traditional flight path  correct 
C influence of oil tankers on the curlew’s ability to make navigational decisions  regards Fagen's theory, not Miller's 
D the  amount of area  available to a migrating curlew 
E extent to which its navigational course is affected  by its environment   agrees with Miller's

2 According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is  most consistent  with which of the following?
A Fagen’s theory  correct, because he provides a reasons to explain why the bird veers from tradition path, and the author agrees with that 
B Miller’s theory  actually the third theory disagrees with Miller's on the part that what causes the deviation in the birds' migratory routs 
C A theory with which the passage  disagrees 
D A decrease in hydrocarbons  supprts Fagen's 
E A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition  supports Miller's

3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?
A To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory  correct 
B To highlight shortcomings in two theories and  to support  a third theory
C To  contrast  two theories and show how together  both are sufficient 
D To discuss how a  third theory is similar to two  competing theories
E To introduce three theories and describe  notable flaws in each

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Took 6:25 minutes and got 2/3 correct. Took me 2:50 minutes to read, write down paragraphs summaries and main point.

P1:contrast F and M's theories
P2: reconcile F and M's theories considering some elements right and some others not

MP: Discuss reasons for the decrease of the curlew through F and M's theories

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
 1  The theory offered in the second paragraph differs most from Miller’s theory in regards to the

Pre-thinking:
 Miller think that the different path is taken only because of the climate change but actually it is because the hidrocarbons

A type of sustenance that the curlew attempts to find
 Not in line with pre-thinking. Hence incorrect

B reason the arctic curlew veers from its traditional flight path
 in line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

C influence of oil tankers on the curlew’s ability to make navigational decisions
 Not in line with pre-thinking. It's not about oil tankers but it is about hidrocarbons. Hence incorrect

D the amount of area available to a migrating curlew
 Not in line with pre-thinking. hence incorrect

E extent to which its navigational course is affected by its environment
 Not in line with pre-thinking. hence incorrect

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2  According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is most consistent with which of the following?

Pre-thinking:
 The reason are the hydrocarbons discussed in Fagen's theory

A Fagen’s theory
 In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

B Miller’s theory
 Not in line with pre- thinking. Hence incorrect

C A theory with which the passage disagrees
 Not in line with pre- thinking. The passage does not disagree here. Hence incorrect

D A decrease in hydrocarbons
 A decrease in Hydrocarbons is not discussed in the passage. Hence incorrect

E A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition
 As per the passage the bird takes a different path because it eats Hydrocarbons. Hence incorrect

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.  Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

Pre-thinking:
 Refer to main point formulation above to analyze the answer choices

A To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory
 This is correct because the passage states that only elements of both theories are correct.

B To highlight shortcomings in two theories and to support a third theory
 No shortcomings are outlined. Hence incorrect

C To contrast two theories and show how together both are sufficient
 Both are not sufficient. Only elements pertaining to both are correct. Hence incorrect

D To discuss how a third theory is similar to two competing theories
 The third theory is not similar. It is different but with elements in common. Hence incorrect

E To introduce three theories and describe notable flaws in each
 Not according to the passage. Hence incorrect

It is a good day to be alive, cheers!

VerbalBot · Answer

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The arctic curlew, a once common wading species in the tundra, has

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The arctic curlew, a once common wading species in the tundra, has

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