During the month of May, crabs arrive on Delaware ' s

Question

During the month of May, crabs arrive on Delaware ' s beaches to lay eggs. Certain shorebirds depend on these eggs for food during their annual spring migration to their northern breeding grounds. Delaware ' s crab population has declined recently. This decline, however, poses no serious threat to the migrating shorebird populations: By remaining longer in Delaware, the birds will be able to eat enough crab eggs to allow them to complete their migration. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A. No other food available to the birds on Delaware ' s beaches is as nutritious and accessible as are crab eggs.
B. The decline in the number of crabs on Delaware ' s beaches is due to the harvesting of crabs by humans.
C. There are more crabs on Delaware ' s beaches than in any other area that the migrating birds pass through.
D. The crabs do not conceal their eggs.
E. The earlier in the season the shorebirds complete their migration, the more likely they are to breed successfully.

OA is unknown.

b14kumar · Answer

I think it's A.

 No other food available to the birds on Delaware's beaches is as nutritious and accessible as are crab eggs. 

It says that there are no other easily accessible sources of nutritious food than crab eggs. So if Delaware's crab population has declined recently, it's very likey that the number of eggs has also declined and this would affect the feeding of birds.

Regards,
Brajesh

fireboll · Answer

E.

It took a few minutes to solve this.
The argument is that the bird population will not be reduced by the decline of crabs.
But given E, the population will be damaged because its breed success rate will decrease as the birds remain longer in delaware.

Beyond700 · Answer

E - weakens the argument....

When there is a decline in crabs visit, argument claims that birds remain longer to fulfill their quota of energy refill, before resuming their migration...

 
E - states that it is not the favoured options for birds as their breeding cycle is affected..  

A - states that a general statement that Crabs are the best source of energy and easily accesible. This is not specific to current decline in crab population..

GMATT73 · Answer

Yes, E should be it. By not completing the migration in time, the shorebirds threaten their future survival.

dkverma · Answer

It should be E.

laxieqv · Answer

This decline, however,   poses no serious threat to the migrating shorebird   populations: By remaining longer in Delaware, the birds will be able to eat enough crab eggs to allow them to complete their migration.

E provides some reasons to defeat the bold part. E explains why lengthening the time staying in Delaware can in fact do harm to the birds. The reason is: the lengthening impedes the breeding of the species.

E it is.

During the month of May, crabs arrive on Delaware ' s

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards