Wildlife expert: Cheetahs face many threats. They have poor immune sys

Official Explanation

The wildlife expert gives many reasons why cheetahs are vulnerable. She states that cheetah populations have been declining, and concludes that the species will soon be extinct in the wild. Her argument assumes that nothing will change in the near future in order to stem the downward trend of cheetah populations. In particular, since the main threat to cheetahs is humans, this failed change will probably be related to human behavior toward the cats. Choice (E) identifies this assumption: Conservation efforts will not alter the current trend.

A fact suggesting this is supplied by choice (C): Farmers, who are the biggest threat to cheetahs, have resisted such conservation efforts. The statement in choice (A), if true, would certainly go a long way toward spelling the extinction of cheetahs; however, it neither is assumed by the argument nor supports the argument’s assumption. Statement (B) suggests that one type of cheetah prey may have trouble of its own. If this leads to diminished populations of Thomson’s gazelles, it could be trouble for cheetahs as well—but again, this is a possible fact that does not address an assumption made by the wildlife expert, and it is not an assumption made by her, either.

Choice (D) would seem to help cheetahs, not hurt them: fewer lions would mean fewer threats for cheetahs. Finally, choice (F) refers to cheetah populations in captivity, while the argument discusses cheetahs in the wild.