Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are...

Question

Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are threatened by deforestation. Yet they also claim that, despite recent reforestation, matters continue to worsen, since it is fragmentation of forest rather than reduction of forest size that endangers songbird species. The introduction of open spaces and corridors in forests reduces the distance of songbird nests from unforested areas and thus reduces the songbirds' natural shield from predators.

The claim that there has recently been reforestation plays which one of the following roles in the ornithologists' argument?

(A) It is used as evidence that various species of songbirds will continue to be threatened with extinction.
(B) It is presented as a claim that is rejected by ornithologists who present declining songbird populations as evidence of deforestation.
(C) It is presented as a phenomenon that is compatible with the ornithologists' claim that the threat to songbirds continues to worsen.
(D) It is used as evidence that songbirds' predators will continue to have a habitat and so will continue to pose a threat to songbirds.
(E) It is presented as evidence for the claim that songbirds' predators are threatened by extinction unless they have open spaces and corridors that give them access to their prey.

KeithJohnson · Answer

Some ornithologists believe that songbirds are threatened by deforestation.. first line is a claim by ornithologists, second line starts with a "yet" meaning the author is going to counter the claim by ornithologists in the previous sentences. That is exactly why the author states that despite reforestation, things are not changing, meaning the problem is somewhere else.

just by reading the first 2 lines we can confidently say that the reforestation claim is meant to support the author's(who happens to be another ornithologist) opinion that the threat to songbirds continues to worsen, C is the answer.

bhaskar1999 · Answer

The ornithologists acknowledge that reforestation has occurred.

However, they point out that even with reforestation, the situation is still worsening.

Thus, the reforestation claim is presented as something that is compatible with their explanation (forest fragmentation is the real issue).

Correct Answer: (C)

It is presented as a phenomenon that is compatible with the ornithologists' claim that the threat to songbirds continues to worsen.

AnkitNandwani1 · Answer

Break down the argument Conclusion: the situation for songbirds is getting worse. Reason: fragmentation, not overall forest loss, is the main threat. Role of reforestation as stated: it’s acknowledged but doesn’t contradict the fragmentation claim.Prethinking For A to be right, the passage would need to treat the fact of reforestation itself as evidence that threats will continue.Evaluate "A" "A: 'It is used as evidence that various species of songbirds will continue to be threatened with extinction.'"

A could be correct only if the passage explicitly framed reforestation as harmful or indicative of ongoing harm. Concrete ways that would happen include:
 
 The text said recent reforestation is patchy planting that increases edge habitat and predator access, so the reforestation fact directly implies continued threat. 
 The text said reforestation used nonnative or simplified vegetation that favors predators, so reforestation itself predicts continued declines. 
 The text said reforestation has mostly created corridors that expand predator ranges, so the mere fact of reforestation is evidence of worsening risk.

Under any of those wordings the sentence "there has recently been reforestation" would function as evidence that threats persist, making A correct.
 
Final answer:(C) remains correct because the original passage treats reforestation as compatible with, not itself proof of, continuing danger; A would only work if the passage explicitly presented reforestation as causally or evidentially linked to increased threat.

Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are...

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Some ornithologists believe that many species of songbirds are...

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