Rabbits are not native to Australia, which lacks predators capable of

Question

Rabbits are not native to Australia, which lacks predators capable of keeping their numbers in check. The rabbit population, left unchecked, expands to such large numbers that it destroys large areas of pastoral land by stripping it of grass. Scientists have recently isolated a virus which has devastated rabbit populations in Central Asia and is harmless to humans. Australian farmers urge scientists to release this virus so that they can reclaim pastoral land currently lost to rabbits.

The farmers who urge the immediate release of the virus assume all of the following EXCEPT

(A) the number of natural predators will not significantly increase in Australia in the near future Correct

argument is not related with other predators

(B) the virus will not be harmful to livestock that graze on the pastoral land Incorrect

can be farmers assumption

(C) the virus will have the same effect on rabbits in Australia as on rabbits in central Asia Incorrect

if less effect than it may not work to reclaim land

(D) the release of the virus is the only means of reducing the rabbit population in Australia Incorrect

they only want to reduce rabbit population

(E) if the rabbit population fell in Australia, land that had been damaged by rabbits would return to a state useful for farming Incorrect

can be farmers assumption

winterschool · Answer

Rabbits are not native to Australia, which lacks predators capable of keeping their numbers in check. The rabbit population, left unchecked, expands to such large numbers that it destroys large areas of pastoral land by stripping it of grass. Scientists have recently isolated a virus which has devastated rabbit populations in Central Asia and is harmless to humans. Australian farmers urge scientists to release this virus so that they can reclaim pastoral land currently lost to rabbits.

The farmers who urge the immediate release of the virus assume all of the following EXCEPT

(A)  the number of natural predators will not significantly increase in Australia in the near future   Correct

argument is not related with other predators

(B) the virus will not be harmful to livestock that graze on the pastoral land  Incorrect

can be farmers assumption

(C) the virus will have the same effect on rabbits in Australia as on rabbits in central Asia  Incorrect

if less effect than it may not work to reclaim land

(D) the release of the virus is the only means of reducing the rabbit population in Australia  Incorrect

they only want to reduce rabbit population

(E) if the rabbit population fell in Australia, land that had been damaged by rabbits would return to a state useful for farming  Incorrect

can be farmers assumption

AnirudhaS · Answer

(A) the number of natural predators will not significantly increase in Australia in the near future
 Yes this might be an assumption of the farmers. if the natural predator numbers increase, then there is no need to release the virus.

(B) the virus will not be harmful to livestock that graze on the pastoral land
 Yea this is definitely an assumption, as if it affects their livestock the farmers would be against its release.

(C) the virus will have the same effect on rabbits in Australia as on rabbits in central Asia
 Yup the farmers have assumed this to be true as well. They think what is true in Central Asia would also be true in Australia, and hence the request to release the virus.

(D) the release of the virus is the only means of reducing the rabbit population in Australia
 No I dont think they assume that this is the ONLY way of reducing rabbit population. They think that this is ONE way that the rabbit population might be reduced.

(E) if the rabbit population fell in Australia, land that had been damaged by rabbits would return to a state useful for farming
 Yup also an assumption of the farmers, they think that with the rabbits gone land would be usable!

KarishmaB · Answer

We are looking for "not an assumption". So other 4 options will be assumptions.

Australia lacks predators of rabbits. 
The rabbit population, left unchecked, destroys large areas of pastoral land. 
Scientists have recently isolated a virus which has devastated rabbit populations in Central Asia and is harmless to humans.

Plan &Aim: Release this virus so that they can reclaim pastoral land currently lost to rabbits.

The plan is to release the virus to reclaim lost land.

(A) the number of natural predators will not significantly increase in Australia in the near future

The farmers want the scientists to intervene because they expect that naturally the rabbit population will not decrease. Correct.

(B) the virus will not be harmful to livestock that graze on the pastoral land

Since the farmers are asking to release the virus, they must be assuming that their livestock will not be harmed.

(C) the virus will have the same effect on rabbits in Australia as on rabbits in central Asia

They expect the virus to reduce rabbit population here too so they are assuming the same effect.

(D) the release of the virus is the only means of reducing the rabbit population in Australia

Not correct. The farmers are not assuming that this is the only way. It might seem to be a convenient way to them but other means of reducing the rabbit population can certainly be possible such as hunting.

(E) if the rabbit population fell in Australia, land that had been damaged by rabbits would return to a state useful for farming

Farmers aim to reclaim their land so they must be assuming that the land damaged will return to useful state.

Answer (D)

swap29 · Answer

Why E is not the correct answer? The argument only states that farmers will reclaim the pastoral land currently lost to rabbits. It nowhere mentions that the land can be returned to a useful state just by reclaiming the lan

guddo · Answer

“Reclaim pastoral land currently lost to rabbits” already implies “make it usable for farming again.” They are farmers asking for a virus so they can get back land for grazing or crops, not just take legal possession of damaged dirt. So they must assume the land is  recoverable  once rabbits drop, otherwise releasing the virus would not achieve their stated goal.

E is therefore an assumption, not the EXCEPT.  D is the EXCEPT  because their request does not require the virus to be the only solution, only a solution they want to use now.

Rabbits are not native to Australia, which lacks predators capable of

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Rabbits are not native to Australia, which lacks predators capable of

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