PrepTest 108, Section 3, Question 11
The everyday behavior of whales is particularly difficult(75 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(9 more words not shown)
- AWhales will often(16 more words not shown)
- BThe behavior of(21 more words not shown)
- CThe trained sea(14 more words not shown)
- DSea lions carrying(16 more words not shown)
- EWhales prefer the(11 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A sea lion nearby is one thing. A sea lion following you around on command might be another.
The scientists want to observe what whales ordinarily do, but an unfamiliar diver or submarine changes the whales' behavior. I can see the appeal of using an animal the whales already encounter. The camera could go with a familiar visitor instead of arriving with a conspicuous new one.
But familiarity with the animal isn't necessarily familiarity with this behavior. Imagine a sea lion that normally passes through the area now staying beside a whale and following every turn. The whale could react to that unusual conduct even though the species itself is familiar. We would be back to observing a response to a new disturbance rather than ordinary whale behavior.
What we’re looking for
The necessary assumption should protect the plan from that problem. I expect the commanded sea lions to behave in ways the whales are already used to. Otherwise, the proposed solution could recreate the very obstacle it was meant to avoid.
Working the answers
- A
Unusual behavior does not have to be aggressive behavior. The whales could become quiet, swim away, or respond in some other atypical way. The argument only needs the disturbance to prevent ordinary observation; it doesn't need the particular reaction A describes.
- BCorrect
The commanded behavior stays within the range the whales are accustomed to seeing from sea lions. That closes the gap between a familiar animal being present and the trained animal's conduct being familiar.
If the commands instead produced behavior the whales found novel, the passage's stated problem would return: new stimuli make them act unusually. The fact that they recognize the animal wouldn't be enough to make this an observation of everyday behavior.
- C
The sea lions could know they are carrying cameras and still behave in ways that don't disturb the whales. The relevant question is how the whales respond to what the sea lions do, not whether the sea lions are aware of their equipment. Their lack of awareness is not required.
- D
Getting closer is not the stated problem the plan must solve. Divers might get excellent close-up footage of whales behaving unusually. The scientists want footage of normal behavior. Sea lions could help achieve that even without filming from a much closer distance than divers can.
- E
Preference and ordinary behavior are different issues. Whales could prefer sea lions to divers but still react unusually to sea lions following commands. Conversely, the plan doesn't require the whales to like sea lions more; it requires the familiar animals and their behavior not to create the relevant disturbance. E doesn't supply that requirement.
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