Forests in Thailand can be divided into two major types: evergreen and deciduous. Fires sweep through deciduous forests annually, when...
GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions
Forests in Thailand can be divided into two major types: evergreen and deciduous. Fires sweep through deciduous forests annually, when all trees have lost their leaves. Tropical evergreen forests, which are found throughout the country in the forested areas with the heaviest rainfall, are the most economically important, because of the rubber trees that are abundant there.
The statements above most strongly support which of the following?
Passage Visualization
| Passage Statement | Visualization and Linkage |
|---|---|
| Forests in Thailand can be divided into two major types: evergreen and deciduous. | Establishes: Basic forest classification system Key Framework: Two distinct forest categories exist
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| Fires sweep through deciduous forests annually, when all trees have lost their leaves. | Establishes: Regular fire pattern in deciduous forests Timing Pattern: Fires occur during leafless period
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| Tropical evergreen forests, which are found throughout the country in the forested areas with the heaviest rainfall, are the most economically important, because of the rubber trees that are abundant there. | Establishes: Location, economic value, and reason for importance Geographic Pattern: Evergreen forests = high rainfall areas
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| Overall Implication | Key Pattern Revealed: Environmental conditions determine forest type, which determines economic value and fire susceptibility Synthesis:
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Valid Inferences
Inference: Evergreen forests in Thailand do not experience the annual fires that sweep through deciduous forests.
Supporting Logic: Since the passage establishes that fires sweep through deciduous forests annually when trees lose their leaves, and evergreen forests by definition retain their leaves year-round (as tropical evergreen forests), evergreen forests would not experience this annual fire pattern. The passage presents these as two distinct forest types with different characteristics - deciduous forests have annual fires during leafless periods, while evergreen forests are characterized by heavy rainfall and rubber tree abundance.
Clarification Note: The passage supports that evergreen forests don't experience the same annual fire pattern as deciduous forests, but doesn't explicitly state they never experience any fires. The inference is specifically about the annual fire cycle described for deciduous forests.
'There are more deciduous trees growing in Thailand's forests than there are evergreen trees.' The passage tells us about two types of forests but provides no quantitative information about which type covers more area or contains more trees. We know deciduous forests experience annual fires and evergreen forests are economically important due to rubber trees, but this doesn't tell us anything about their relative quantities. This choice makes a comparison that we simply cannot support from the given information.
'A Thai forest is more apt to have rubber trees growing in it if it gets more rain than other Thai forests do.' This choice correctly connects the dots from our passage. We're told that tropical evergreen forests are found 'in the forested areas with the heaviest rainfall' and that these same forests have 'rubber trees that are abundant there.' So if a forest gets more rain, it's more likely to be an evergreen forest, and evergreen forests are where rubber trees are abundant. This inference flows logically from the established relationships in the passage.
'The most expensive wood grown in Thailand comes from tropical evergreen forests.' While the passage tells us that tropical evergreen forests are 'the most economically important,' this importance is specifically attributed to rubber trees, not to expensive wood. Rubber trees are valuable for rubber production, not necessarily for their wood. The passage doesn't discuss wood quality or prices at all, making this choice unsupported.
'Forest fires that cause the most damage to property in Thailand tend to occur in deciduous forests.' The passage mentions that fires sweep through deciduous forests annually, but it says nothing about property damage. In fact, since evergreen forests are described as more economically important, fires there (if they occurred) might actually cause more economic damage. The passage simply doesn't provide information about property damage from fires.
'Most of the timber that Thailand exports comes from tropical evergreen forests.' Similar to choice C, this makes assumptions about timber exports that the passage doesn't support. While evergreen forests are economically important due to rubber trees, this doesn't necessarily translate to timber exports. The passage focuses on rubber trees as the source of economic value, not timber production or export activities.