Q11

[jgmartin82]

11. (A)

Question Type: Inference (8-11, 25-39)

The question asks us to infer. It’s somewhat frustrating that it’s so open ended, but if we make sure to stay close to the passage and avoid overly large inferences, we should be okay. Let’s work from wrong to right.

(A) is promising. The first bit is describing secondary substances. I know they play a role in evolution, but do they play a vital role in plants’ lives? Not totally sure. Let’s keep it.

(B) is incorrect because of degree. The modifiers most and wide variety should immediately garner attention. Most plants have evolved defense systems? Is that supported? Lines 17-19 state that many plants have secondary substances. Many does not allow us to infer most. Also a wide variety of insects have evolved ways to circumvent plant defenses? Seems reasonable, but it’s not supported by the passage. Eliminate.

(C) is contradicted. We learned that the insects use smell and taste to distinguish between plants, not means other than smell and taste like the answer choice suggests. Most insects has no support as well. Eliminate.

(D) is out of scope. When did we ever talk about plants evolving independently? Never. Eliminate.

(E) is unsupported. All of the discussion of plant defenses focused on secondary substances. Eliminate.

Looking back at (A), we needed support for the vital role in plants’ lives bit. The second half of paragraph 2 provides that support through its description of how secondary substances help plants to survive. Notice how small the jump is from the text to the answer. In general, the smaller the inference the better.

[ttunden]

11. (A)

Question Type: Inference (8-11, 25-39)



(A) is promising. The first bit is describing secondary substances. I know they play a role in evolution, but do they play a vital role in plants’ lives? Not totally sure. Let’s keep it.


(D) is out of scope. When did we ever talk about plants evolving independently?

Lines 18-21 say that secondary substances first rose prior to insects. It also says some evolved now after interaction with insects. So that is where the passage talks about secondary substances evolving independently.

Can you explain further why D is incorrect please. I picked A but in blind review I need more assurance for figuring out why D is wrong.

thanks!

[jewels0602]

11. (A)

Question Type: Inference (8-11, 25-39)



(A) is promising. The first bit is describing secondary substances. I know they play a role in evolution, but do they play a vital role in plants’ lives? Not totally sure. Let’s keep it.


(D) is out of scope. When did we ever talk about plants evolving independently?

Lines 18-21 say that secondary substances first rose prior to insects. It also says some evolved now after interaction with insects. So that is where the passage talks about secondary substances evolving independently.

Can you explain further why D is incorrect please. I picked A but in blind review I need more assurance for figuring out why D is wrong.

thanks!

I think D might be wrong because we don't know if these secondary substances survive only in a few species. Maybe a really worthy secondary substance that works really well in deterring harmful insects (and its so potent they have a hard time building defense) is pretty popular even beyond a handful of species.

[linda.ning.an]

For answer choice E), the passage talks about the secondary substances helping to dissuade the insect from feeding by warning it of the presence of some other substance that is harmful (line 35 - 39). Unless "toxic" and "harmful" do not mean the same thing, I thought E) was well-supported.

Please help me understand why E) is incorrect. Thank you.