Q21

[Shiggins]

Having trouble seein how E is the correct choice. The third paragraph discuses examples of how their behavior was shaped by extinct animals. If someone could explain E, much appreciated. The double neg is kinda throwing me off a little.

[timmydoeslsat]

I am not sure if the number you have posted is correct. I have an old version of the test on my computer that may be wrong, but on mine it is #21. This is the last question of this third passage though.

Let's go through the answer choices for this inference question about the third paragraph, which was about more supporting evidence for the idea that pronghorns' behavior is a relict behavior - that is meaning behavior from that once benefited them in the past, although the threats that evolved such a behavior do not exist currently.

A) Cannot infer this. The paragraph says that grazing in herds can lessen the likelihood of an individual being attacked, but to say "do not attack" is too strong.

B) Tend to graze only when they sense a threat from predators close by? Too strong. Only when? We do not know that it is a necessary for that to occur for pronghorns to graze.

C) ~ Animals Graze for food ---> ~Roam in herds

Too broad with animals being thrown in there instead of just pronghorns.

Even if it said pronghorns it would not be correct. We have been given no information about what happens when they do not graze for food.

D) Only with the fastest male pronghorns? That is not true. They will choose the victor of a sprint between two pronghorns, and that winner would not have to be the fastest of the entire herd.

E) ~ Herd ---> ~Face more danger from predators

This does have support. We are told in the third paragraph that pronghorns developed this herding behavior because of the extinct predators. It states that the pronghorns have nothing to gain from herding nowadays (Middle of third paragraph).

[maryadkins]

Nice explanation!

I'd add to (B) that the whole point of discussing their herding is that they no longer do it to avoid threats. So it's even more wrong. They have "nothing to gain from herding." (Line 36.)

[manish_kanwar]

Hi there,


Can someone please explain this particular question. I cant seem to get hang of the conditional in answer choice E.

Am I write in drawing the following:

If Not p then not Q
Contrapositive: Q therefore P

It may seem foolish but I am drawing: they would face danger from present day carnivorous animals therefore the pronghorns herd.

That seems not correct and against the point illustarted in the passage: they herd without the necessity for herding protection.


Please help us with it.

[noah]

The answer to this inference question relies on these facts in the third paragraph: "...pronghorns have nothing to fear from present-day carnivores and thus have nothing to gain from herding, their herding behavior appears to be another adaptation
to extinct threats.

So, we can infer that if pronghorns stopped herding, they wouldn't have to worry about any present-day carnivore, since pronghorns have nothing to fear from them.

As for the wrong answers:

(A) has a degree issue. Herding helps protect grazing animals, but it's not a full proof protection plan.

(B) is unsupported and has an issue of degree - we never learn they ONLY graze in herds when sensing a threat. In fact, these days there is no threat from carnivores, but they're still grazing in herds!

(C) is unsupported.

(D) has a degree issue: only the fastest? The ladies choose the faster in a bout, but the winner might not be the fastest in the whole herd (note to all the male pronghorns: challenge the slowpokes).

As for your reasoning, I'm not sure why you're busting out formal logic here. It's a rather awkward question for that approach. It boils down to this: herding protects from carnivores, there are no carnivore threats, so no herding won't cause a problem from carnivores.

I hope that helps.

[jimmy902o]

^^^ lol on your explanation of D