by: Bunuel
24 mins
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Sep 1507:00 PM EDT
-09:00 PM EST
Elite scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GMAT course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Tues/Thurs Sept. 15, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2027, 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
Sep 2107:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri Sept. 21, 2026 - Oct. 9, 2027, 7:00pm-10:00pm EST
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
78% (01:43) correct
22%
(01:57)
wrong
based on 4525
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The population of desert tortoises in Targland's Red Desert has declined, partly because they are captured for sale as pets and partly because people riding all-terrain vehicles have damaged their habitat. Targland plans to halt this population decline by blocking the current access routes into the desert and announcing new regulations to allow access only on foot. Targland's officials predict that these measures will be adequate, since it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle.
Which of the following would it be most important to establish in order to evaluate the officials' prediction?
(A) Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland.
(B) Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes.
(C) Whether the Red Dessert Tortoises are most active during the day or at night
(D) Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
(E) Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle into the Red Desert.
Which of the following would it be most important to establish in order to evaluate the officials' prediction?
(A) Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland.
(B) Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes.
(C) Whether the Red Dessert Tortoises are most active during the day or at night
(D) Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
(E) Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle into the Red Desert.
The argument states that one factor in the decline of the turtle population is all-terrain vehicles. The plan is to block "the current access routes...". However, what if the all-terrain vehicles enter the park through the current access routes? Therefore (B) is clearly the answer.
(D), while tempting, can be discounted because of the information at the very end of the paragraph, "it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle." Therefore those walking in the park will not able to easily capture the tortoises and take them home, thereby reducing their numbers.
Hope that helps
_________________
(D), while tempting, can be discounted because of the information at the very end of the paragraph, "it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle." Therefore those walking in the park will not able to easily capture the tortoises and take them home, thereby reducing their numbers.
Hope that helps
_________________
The population of desert tortoises in Targland’s Red Desert has declined, partly because they are captured for sale as pets and partly because people riding all-terrain vehicles have damaged their habitat. Targland plans to halt this population decline by blocking the current access routes into the desert and announcing new regulations to allow access only on foot. Targland’s officials predict that these measures will be adequate, since it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle. Which of the following would it be most important to establish in order to evaluate the officials’ prediction?
A. Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland
B. Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes
C. Whether the Red Desert tortoises are most active during the day or at night
D. Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
E. Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle into the Red Desert
Is the answer
A. Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland
B. Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes
C. Whether the Red Desert tortoises are most active during the day or at night
D. Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
E. Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle into the Red Desert
Is the answer
B because if there is another route people will access that and so the conclusion fails is that the reason for the answer what is wrong with D it could be possible that people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises - Strengthen who travel on foot in the Red Desert DO NOT often encounter the tortoises - weaken this could also be evaluate right where is the problem?
General Discussion
I will go with A. The officials want to control the decline in population of the tortoise and they have suggested to stop the use of all-terrain vehicles in the region. They believe that all-terrain vehicles are necessary to capture tortoises to sell them as pets. If the tortoise are still permitted to be used as pets, the people capturing tortoises may find other means to capture them and those means may also disturb the tortoise habitat thus declining their population.
GMAT 1: 650 Q46 V35
Posts: 27
B is the answer, since the plan won't be successful if there is any other access route into the desert.
B.
Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland.
- law can only put a ban, but poaching can still continue.
Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes.
- correct - if all entry points are closed the step should be effective. it is imp. to establish this point in order evaluate the official's prediction.
Whether the Red Dessert Tortoises are most active during the day or at night
- night/day is out of question here in order to evaluate official's prediction.
Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
- whether they do/not may not be sufficient to evaluate official's prediction.
Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle inot the Red Desert.
- public hearings are not really required, once regulations are in place people would come to know. however establishing this point is not relevant to evaluating the official's prediction.
Whether possessing the tortoises as pets remains legally permissible in Targland.
- law can only put a ban, but poaching can still continue.
Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes.
- correct - if all entry points are closed the step should be effective. it is imp. to establish this point in order evaluate the official's prediction.
Whether the Red Dessert Tortoises are most active during the day or at night
- night/day is out of question here in order to evaluate official's prediction.
Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises
- whether they do/not may not be sufficient to evaluate official's prediction.
Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by vehicle inot the Red Desert.
- public hearings are not really required, once regulations are in place people would come to know. however establishing this point is not relevant to evaluating the official's prediction.
Straight B - it is the only one that deals with the premise of allowing all terrain vehicles into the desert.
Posts: 112
I chose B but I was struggling between B and D.
Is D wrong because the stem states that 'it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle' and therefore can not question that fact, i.e. people who encounter the tortoises will NOT be able to capture them for sale?
thanks.
Is D wrong because the stem states that 'it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle' and therefore can not question that fact, i.e. people who encounter the tortoises will NOT be able to capture them for sale?
thanks.
alimad
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40
Posts: 42
Hi there
There is two factor that lowers the population: habitat damage (with cars) and tortoise hunting (requires a car)
D is useless because
1/ we already know they won't be able to hunt without a car
2/ they won't be able to damage the habitats with their car
B is a better answer because if people have other ways to access with their vehicles, then the whole policy becomes useless.
Hope that helps
There is two factor that lowers the population: habitat damage (with cars) and tortoise hunting (requires a car)
D is useless because
1/ we already know they won't be able to hunt without a car
2/ they won't be able to damage the habitats with their car
B is a better answer because if people have other ways to access with their vehicles, then the whole policy becomes useless.
Hope that helps
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40
Posts: 42
Hi there
There is two factor that lowers the population: habitat damage (with cars) and tortoise hunting (requires a car)
D is useless because
1/ we already know they won't be able to hunt without a car
2/ they won't be able to damage the habitats with their car
B is a better answer because if people have other ways to access with their vehicles, then the whole policy becomes useless.
Hope that helps
There is two factor that lowers the population: habitat damage (with cars) and tortoise hunting (requires a car)
D is useless because
1/ we already know they won't be able to hunt without a car
2/ they won't be able to damage the habitats with their car
B is a better answer because if people have other ways to access with their vehicles, then the whole policy becomes useless.
Hope that helps
"........ since it is difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle........"
the evaluation od sucg prediction should firmly based on the vehicle entry,(B) has it.
the evaluation od sucg prediction should firmly based on the vehicle entry,(B) has it.
metallicafan
Retired Moderator
Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Last visit: 26 Aug 2020
Posts: 754
Status:2000 posts! I don't know whether I should feel great or sad about it! LOL
Location: Peru
Schools:Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT & HKS (Government)
WE 1: Economic research
WE 2: Banking
WE 3: Government: Foreign Trade and SMEs
Posts: 754
+1 B
D is wrong because it doesn't matter whether people walking in the desert find tortoises. You need a car to collect them.
D is wrong because it doesn't matter whether people walking in the desert find tortoises. You need a car to collect them.
Posts: 139
gmat blows
D is a trick option. There's difference between encountering a tortoise and catching one. A tortoise can be as small football or as huge a 10 footballs (excuse the comparison), but u get the point.
sahilchaudhary
Joined: 25 Nov 2013
Last visit: 19 May 2015
Posts: 102
Status:Work hard in silence, let success make the noise
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, General Management
Schools: Schulich '16 (D) Mays '17 Queens'17 Sauder '17
GMAT 1: 540 Q50 V15
GMAT 2: 640 Q50 V27
GPA: 3.11
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
Easy though tricky question.
I marked D and got it wrong, but now I understood why B is correct.
I marked D and got it wrong, but now I understood why B is correct.
Hi,
Seeing the option B, First of all conclusion says the plan is implemented to halt the population decline of the tortoise by blocking the current access route. So the conclusion talks about current access route only. Anything which weaken or strengthen the conclusion should talks about current access only. Its no where mention about the other entry/access points. It can be a case in other access points tortoise don't face any problem or they face who knows.
Other option seems to be out of scope. But help me out to clear my understanding?
Thanks
Seeing the option B, First of all conclusion says the plan is implemented to halt the population decline of the tortoise by blocking the current access route. So the conclusion talks about current access route only. Anything which weaken or strengthen the conclusion should talks about current access only. Its no where mention about the other entry/access points. It can be a case in other access points tortoise don't face any problem or they face who knows.
Other option seems to be out of scope. But help me out to clear my understanding?
Thanks
Nitinaka19
Hi Nitin,
What does the plan seek to achieve?
Halt the population decline of tortoise.
Right?
How does it plan to achieve that?
by blocking the current access routes into the desert and announcing new regulations to allow access only on foot
Right?
What if all-terrain vehicles enter the desert from some routes other than current routes? Would the plan be successful then?
No. Agreed?
Now, if the success of the plan depends on the above point, how can you say that "other routes" are OFS.
Remember, anything that impacts the argument is not out of scope. You need to be very careful in marking options as OFS. Just because an option talks about a thing which has not been talked about in the argument does not make that option statement OFS. Only when an option statement has no impact on the argument and is completely irrelevant can you say that the option is irrelevant.
Does it help?
Thanks,
Chiranjeev
_________________
Free Trial: Get 25 AI-powered videos | 400 practice questions | 8 free webinars | 1 full + 3 sectional mocks
Record Success delivered in 2025-26: 100th percentile scores | 250-pt improvements | Success in less than 60 days
MBA admits: M7 admits | T20 admits | ISB admits | $100k Scholarships
Learn why e-GMAT has 2X more verified 705+ scores than other GMAT Club partners – Read our 2800+ reviews
Record Success delivered in 2025-26: 100th percentile scores | 250-pt improvements | Success in less than 60 days
MBA admits: M7 admits | T20 admits | ISB admits | $100k Scholarships
Learn why e-GMAT has 2X more verified 705+ scores than other GMAT Club partners – Read our 2800+ reviews
Hi,
Thanks for your early response, But could you please help me out here as i'm not able to understand this statement "What if all-terrain vehicles enter the desert from some routes other than current routes? Would the plan be successful then?"
As our conclusion is to halt the decline of tortoise population by restriction the vehicles through current route.Then assumption shouldn't be linking these two statement. instead of stating about other route .
Or it is linked in this way like the route is irrelevant here ,only thing we should consider here is the vehicle should not be entering as vehicle has caused a decline .
Could you help me explaining how does it linked.
Thanks
Thanks for your early response, But could you please help me out here as i'm not able to understand this statement "What if all-terrain vehicles enter the desert from some routes other than current routes? Would the plan be successful then?"
As our conclusion is to halt the decline of tortoise population by restriction the vehicles through current route.Then assumption shouldn't be linking these two statement. instead of stating about other route .
Or it is linked in this way like the route is irrelevant here ,only thing we should consider here is the vehicle should not be entering as vehicle has caused a decline .
Could you help me explaining how does it linked.
Thanks
I agree with the points made by Nitinaka. The stem states that the plan will be achieved by blocking current access routes, doesn't it mean we should not even worry about any other access to the desert?
Need explanation.
Thanks!
Need explanation.
Thanks!
Posts: 5
This is a tricky question in which a word can make a difference.
B) Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes ( Notice the words Current Access routes)
Yes : - If it can enforce regulations on other routes as well then it is possible that measures are adequate. It helps in official prediction.
No :- It destroys official prediction. If there are other access routes as well then banning one route won't help. People can go from other routes as well.
D) Question stem says that its difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle. But in this option it says people encouter tortoises. May be the tortoise are so heavy that people can see them but they can't carry them. So it doesn't affect the prediction. (Encounter is different from collection).
B) Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes ( Notice the words Current Access routes)
Yes : - If it can enforce regulations on other routes as well then it is possible that measures are adequate. It helps in official prediction.
No :- It destroys official prediction. If there are other access routes as well then banning one route won't help. People can go from other routes as well.
D) Question stem says that its difficult to collect the tortoises without a vehicle. But in this option it says people encouter tortoises. May be the tortoise are so heavy that people can see them but they can't carry them. So it doesn't affect the prediction. (Encounter is different from collection).
sahilchaudhary
Moderators:
Announcements
Tuck at Dartmouth
AI at Dartmouth Tuck: How the School Is Preparing Leaders for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos
Success stories and strategies from high-scoring candidates.