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ohthatpatrick
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Q4 - The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to

by ohthatpatrick Sun Jul 07, 2019 4:07 pm

Question Type:
Explain / Resolve

Stimulus Breakdown:
Background: Large cat species normally follow a pattern relating to where they live and hunt (f.e. spotted coats for trees/forests vs. plain coats for open spaces)
Anomaly: The cheetah is spotted but lives in the open savannah.

Answer Anticipation:
Given that spotted cats usually live and hunt in trees/forests, why is the cheetah (who lives in open spaces) also spotted?

I'm noticing that they don't mention where the cheetah hunts, so maybe it's unique in terms of living and hunting in two different habitats (and having a coat that matches the hunting space, rather than the living space). Or maybe the cheetah evolved from a tree dwelling cat and still retains the signature spots?

Correct Answer:
A

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) This brings up hunting and makes it a crucial difference between cheetahs and all other large cats. Other cats need coats that fit the environment in which they hunt so that they can better hide and sneak up. Cheetahs don't care if you see them; they're confident they'll be able to catch up using their crazy speed.

(B) No way to make a connection between "have their prey stolen" and "spotted coat living in open spaces".

(C) This seems to increase the confusion. If they can't climb trees, they probably don't hang out in trees, so why do they have spots like tree-dwelling cats?

(D) This would be pretty weak in general since it's only a contrast with lions. But there's also no easy way to make a connection from "solitary hunter" to "spotted coat living in open space".

(E) This has the same appeal of (A), in that it provides a way to distinguish cheetahs from all other large cats. But it's hard to connect "can't roar" to "spotted coat in open spaces".

Takeaway/Pattern: I initially wanted to throw out (A), but everything else seemed too useless or weak. Since the cheetah is "the only anomaly" among large cats, the beginning of (A) and (E) have the best chance of explaining why cheetahs are different from all other large cats. The correct answer definitely involves using some outside knowledge that coloration on animal skin / coats is primarily used for camouflage. Don't be shocked if you need to use a little real world common sense on Strengthen, Weaken, Explain/Resolve.

#officialexplanation
 
ArekS342
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Re: Q4 - The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to

by ArekS342 Mon Jul 08, 2019 3:04 pm

I interpreted C as: cheetahs not being able to climb up trees would be a good reason for them not to live and hunt in environments with lots of trees. This would explain why they don't live in forests. Is it wrong because it doesn't explain why they have spots?
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Re: Q4 - The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to

by ohthatpatrick Tue Jul 09, 2019 1:42 pm

I don't think (A) explains why they have spots, so that shouldn't be our reason for getting rid of (C).

(A) explains why it's okay that they have spots: it doesn't matter if they stick out, since they're using speed, not stealth, to hunt.

I think (C) loses because it has less impact.

You're trying to take it from "since they can't climb upright trees, they don't live in trees or dappled forests". (C) certainly nudges in that direction, but they still might live in non-upright trees or live beneath the tress on the floor of dappled forests.

Even if we granted (C) the power to tell us "WHY they don't live in trees", we weren't really interested in that. The paradox here is more about wondering "Why are cheetahs the only large cat whose coat is not adapted to its habitat?"

(A) is saying, "its coat doesn't need to match its habitat, because it doesn't use camouflage."

(C) would be saying "its coat doesn't match the tree habitat, because it would have trouble living in upright trees". That still begs the question, "cool, well why doesn't the coat match the habitat where it DOES live?"
 
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Re: Q4 - The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to

by ArekS342 Tue Jul 09, 2019 3:45 pm

Got it. I have more questions, but I can't find the button to post a new topic in the PT 87 thread. Where can I ask these questions? They're mostly on the later questions in section 3.
 
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Re: Q4 - The coat patterns of large cat species correspond to

by BoningY78 Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:07 pm

Hi, where can I get a copy of pt87? I saw many people had discussed it online now. But my order from Amazon isn't released yet. Thank you.