The forest ranger explained to the group on the ecology walk that the

Question

The forest ranger explained to the group on the ecology walk that the woods around them, dominated by beech and maple trees, were representative within that region of an ecological climax community. Before climax an area is in constant change as the initial simple vegetation, through the natural process of decay, enriches the soil, enabling it to sustain more complex plant and animal life. The sequence of development leading up to the climax community of beeches and maples starts with sand on which grasses grow, causing stability and eventual enrichment of the soil until conifers and then oaks grow, resulting finally in the ascendance of the present beeches and maples.

The forest ranger is assuming which one of the following?

A. No conifers or oaks are present in this particular climax community.

B. The evolution of a forest does not conform to typical growth patterns.

C. The animal life of an ecological community has no effect on soil enrichment.

D. Within the region, unenriched sand cannot sustain trees like beeches and maples.

E. After the climax of an ecological community, no further ecological change takes place

agdimple333 · Accepted Answer

D.

was confused between D and E. And did not choose E, because the passage does not give any information after the climax period. I am not sure if that is the probable reason of not choosing E.

bschool83 · Answer

Try negating E. Even if after the climax of an ecological community further ecological change continues, the sequence of vegetation is not impacted. ie. Sand --> oak --> beech will remain the same.

gijoedude · Answer

I go with D.

There is a lengthy process to go from sand to soil which has enough nutrients to support maple and beeches. This assumes that sand does not have enough nutrients on its own to support maple and beeches.

rajivchandak · Answer

Tough question... agree with D

hanminhee · Answer

Sorry, but can anyone point out the question No in OG for that question? I can't find in the OG and the way of reasoning doesn't sound like a GMAT type to me. Thanks

keats · Answer

hanminhee  I don't think that this question comes from OG. Probably it is wrongly tagged.

hanminhee · Answer

Keats : Thanks

mbaprep2016 · Answer

I am bit confused in this ....
See this way.... By following series of steps, Result that includes beeches and maples, is arrived. Now the result is intact after that. now assumed Nothing has changed after the result. so marked E. but latter thought it cud be something changed but did not affect the result.

Experts , please tell me is my reasoning correct to remove E.

Shrivathsan · Answer

Exactly !! Doesnt look like an OG question at all.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

This question is lame. Is it really from the OG?

That the forest ranger is assuming that sand cannot support those trees is not clear. That they won't grow in sand seems to be less an assumption and more an established fact.

It would make just as much sense, meaning almost no sense, to say that he is assuming that the trees he believes to be beech trees are actually beech trees, or to say that he is assuming that trees need nutrients.

Ridiculous ...

devikeerthansr · Answer

Between D and E I chose D because negating D breaks the argument. Negating E does not do anything. D it is.

Thekingmaker · Answer

This one of the easiest of all the assumptions just read the last two lines of the passage that's were the answer is stored 
, it says that soil enrichment through the growth is preceded before the growth of maple therefore all other option either being out of context or clearly not alligning with passage hence IMO D

VerbalBot · Answer

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The forest ranger explained to the group on the ecology walk that the

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