Biologist: Some speculate that

Answer choices

1. A

   Opposite31% picked this

   The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool could have the effect of increasing the frequency of

   This answer is making it seem like the stuff the biologist said actually was agreeing with the stuff that some were speculating. But the "however" is pretty clearly telegraphing the fact that the biologists two ideas (the 2nd and 3rd sentence) are meant to push back against the 1st sentence.

   31%
2. B

   Opposite4% picked this

   The unusual frequency of small goats in island populations is not a result of the greater reproductive success small goats

   If anything, our biologist would speculate that if there's a high frequency of small goats, then it is the result of the greater reproductive success small goats have in this island environment. She thinks that the trait of smallness would only result if smallness conferred a reproductive advantage over largeness.

   4%
3. C

   Opposite1% picked this

   Contrary to what some believe, large goats achieve greater reproductive success than small goats even

   We have no support for the idea that large goats achieve greater reproductive success. In fact, the two sentences the biologist told us are contradicting this notion. Given that the trait of smallness occurs in higher frequency than the trait of largeness, she would assume that small goats achieve greater reproductive success.

   1%
4. D

   Correct58% picked this

   The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool does not have the effect of increasing the frequency of

   Why this is right

   Yup, this answer just did the ol' Reconcile the Pivot. Since this pivot was a rebuttal, reconciling what came before / after is going to usually sound like, "So that idea you heard before the pivot is wrong." A diverse gene pool is a reality that would help the entire goat species on the island, whereas the biologist is pointing out that the only evolutionary pressures there are that influence the prevalence of a trait (such as smallness) have to derive from greater reproductive success for those who have smallness.

   Skill tested: Most Supported · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   58%
5. E

   Not Biologist's View5% picked this

   A diverse gene pool cannot be achieved in a goat population unless the average size of

   This is too strongly worded even for the Some people in the first sentence, but what should immediately stick out to us is that this idea advances the view of the people in the first sentence. Our biologist is disagreeing with that view, and the question stem is saying "if the biologist's view is true, then which answer should we believe". If her view is true, then we should believe that the view in the first sentence was wrong.

   5%