Saguaro kangaroo rats generally leave watering holes, where food and

Question

Saguaro kangaroo rats generally leave watering holes, where food and water are abundant, during the day, while Sonoran kangaroo rats remain near these same watering holes and continue foraging throughout the day Although Sonoran kailgaroo rats have larger and more frequent litters, they are generally outnumbered by the Saguaro kangaroo rat.

Which of the following, if true, would best resolve the apparent paradox described above?

A. Several species of successful rodents also leave the streams and watering holes during the day

B. The Saguaro kangaroo rat matures much more slowly than the Sonoran kangaroo rat because of its relatively limited food supply.

C. Many of the predators of kangaroo rats, such as falcons and rattlesnakes, are only active around streams during the day.

D. Saguaro kangaroo rats are more sensitive to sunlight than are Sonoran kangaroo rats.

E. Sonoran kangaroo rats are reproductive to a greater age than are Saguaro kangaroo rats.

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okHedwig · Answer

Hi,

I think the answer should be C.
confused at E too, but C looks more right as per the question asked.
Please let me know the correct approach

Thanks!

findingmyself · Answer

We need a reason to know why even after having larger and more frequent litters, Sonoran rats are less in number.

Which of the following, if true, would best resolve the apparent paradox described above?

A. Several species of successful rodents also leave the streams and watering holes during the day 
 Irrelevant

B. The Saguaro kangaroo rat matures much more slowly than the Sonoran kangaroo rat because of its relatively limited food supply. 
 This is saying exactly opposite of what we want to solve for. It is saying a reason why saguaro rat mature slowly
 
 C. Many of the predators of kangaroo rats, such as falcons and rattlesnakes, are only active around streams during the day. 
  This explanins the paradox. During day predators come, since only Sonoran are near watering holes, which is why they get preyed and eater more thus lowering there count even though they reproduce more

D. Saguaro kangaroo rats are more sensitive to sunlight than are Sonoran kangaroo rats. 
 Irrelevant. Sensitive stand alone cannot explain the paradox
 
 E. Sonoran kangaroo rats are reproductive to a greater age than are Saguaro kangaroo rats. 
 Same as B, Incorrect

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

C

The "apparent paradox" refers to the fact that although Saguaro kangaroo rats have smaller, less frequent litters and spend less time foraging where resources are abundant, they nevertheless outnumber the Sonoran kangaroo rats. We must find an answer choice that explains how this is possible.

(B) and (E) make the paradox even harder to explain. They both discuss further inherent weaknesses of the Saguaro species, which if anything, would lead us to believe that there should be more Sonoran rats, rather tharrthe other way around. (A) isn't relevant to the comparison between the Sonoran and Saguaro species. (D) addresses the wrong question; it may explain why the Saguaro rats leave watering holes during daylight hours, but that doesn't explain why they have greater population numbers. Only (C) provides a plausible explanation. The fact that Sonoran rats spend more time in areas where predators are active could explain why they are outnumbered by the Saguaro rats.

Adit_ · Answer

Couldn't really comprehend the stem well. So option C points to the fact that one group stays around the stream so they get preyed upon and the count is less, I get that, however, what is the relation with streams here? Is the watering holes the streams mentioned? A watering hole could really be anything no? The term stream was rather too specific I felt IMO and hence thought it wouldn't make a diff if the snakes preyed that time considering both the species could be around the area technically, just that one group is closer to a certain watering hole.

guddo · Answer

Yes: in (C), “streams” is just another way of referring to the same kind of place as the “watering holes” in the stem, meaning a water source where animals gather. So  stream or watering hole  is the same “hot spot.”

And (C) is specific enough: Sonoran rats  stay near that hot spot during the day , so they are exposed when predators are active there. Saguaro rats  leave during the day , so they avoid that daytime danger. Even if Saguaro are “technically” in the broader area, the stem already says they are not near the watering holes then, which is what matters.

Saguaro kangaroo rats generally leave watering holes, where food and

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Saguaro kangaroo rats generally leave watering holes, where food and

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