Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way

Question

Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way in areas which they have not frequented in many years. A new zoological research has discovered that this ability can be further enhanced by fixing the leading elephant with blinders, thereby greatly limiting its field of vision.

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

A. The leading elephant is able to avoid stumbling over even with the proposed blinders.

B. Elephants' memory is not visual, but rather relies on their sense of smell.

C. Elephants with blinders on find it harder to recognize surroundings, because it is harder for them to compare the current visual sensation with the remembered one.

D. An elephant's sense of smell, which is its best memory aid, is hindered by visual distractions.

E. Elephants' eyes are relatively weak and are a secondary sense, whereas an elephant's sense of smell is particularly advanced.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way in areas which they have not frequented in many years. A new zoological research has discovered that this ability can be further enhanced by fixing the leading elephant with blinders, thereby greatly limiting its field of vision.

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

A. The leading elephant is able to avoid stumbling over even with the proposed blinders.

Incorrect.

This is a Paradox question, so it is made up of premises only; you need to find a new premise which best resolves the apparent discrepancy between the existing premises:

Premise A: Elephants have a great memory.
 ✖
Premise B: Limiting a leading elephant's field of vision with blinders makes its use of memory better.

Resolving Premise: ?

This answer choice does not resolve the paradox, because the fact that the elephant won't fall down with the blinders doesn't explain why making the elephant partially blind helps its memory.

B. Elephants' memory is not visual, but rather relies on their sense of smell.

Close, very close.

This answer choice is tricky, because it focuses on the elephant's memory being based on its sense of smell. However, notice that this answer choice doesn't explain why an elephant remembers better with the blinders on than it does without them. Only such an answer choice will fully resolve the paradox. Look for it!

C. Elephants with blinders on find it harder to recognize surroundings, because it is harder for them to compare the current visual sensation with the remembered one.

Incorrect.

This answer choice emphasizes the paradox rather than resolves it. If elephants need to see in order to employ their memory of previously visited locations, then fitting them with blinders should make their use of their memory worse, rather than better.

D. An elephant's sense of smell, which is its best memory aid, is hindered by visual distractions.

This answer choice is the only one that tells us both that an elephant remembers best what it smelled with its trunk and that its sight is actually a distraction to remembering. If this is the case, putting blinders on the elephant will actually help it to remember better, thus fully resolving the paradox.

E. Elephants' eyes are relatively weak and are a secondary sense, whereas an elephant's sense of smell is particularly advanced.

Almost there.

This is a Paradox question, so it is made up of premises only; you need to find a new premise which best resolves the apparent discrepancy between the existing premises:

Premise A: Elephants have a great memory.
 ✖
Premise B: Limiting a leading elephant's field of vision with blinders makes its use of memory better.

Resolving Premise: ?

This answer choice is tricky, because it tells us the elephant's most effective sense is its sense of smell. However, notice that this AC doesn't explain why an elephant remembers better with the blinders on than it does without them. Only such an answer choice will fully resolve the paradox.

minalgambhir · Answer

ANSWER CHOICE ANALYSIS -

A) Doesn't affect the memory of the elephant even if the leading elephant is able avoid the stumbling
B) Memory relies on smell - doesn't provide a reason of the further enhancement of memory after using blinders
C) Opposing the premise
D) CORRECT - That is the reason why the memory enhanced after using blinders
E) Comparison of vision and smell doesn't give us the appropriate reason

winterschool · Answer

Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way in areas which they have not frequented in many years. A new zoological research has discovered that this ability can be further enhanced by fixing the leading elephant with blinders, thereby greatly limiting its field of vision.

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

Which of the following hypotheses best explains the contrast described above?

A. The leading elephant is able to avoid stumbling over even with the proposed blinders.  Incorrect

but how can it enhanced to find their way

B. Elephants' memory is not visual, but rather relies on their sense of smell.  Incorrect

so if they use their sense of smell than how can limiting its field of vision enhanced to find their memory

C. Elephants with blinders on find it harder to recognize surroundings, because it is harder for them to compare the current visual sensation with the remembered one.  Incorrect

it against argument

D.  An elephant's sense of smell, which is its best memory aid, is hindered by visual distractions.   Correct

their memory enhanced by limiting its field of vision, which distract them

E. Elephants' eyes are relatively weak and are a secondary sense, whereas an elephant's sense of smell is particularly advanced.  Incorrect

it cant explain the discrepancy

VerbalBot · Answer

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Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way

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Elephants have an exceptional memory, enabling them to find their way

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