In the 1960s, surveys of Florida's alligator population indicated that the population was dwindling rapidly. Hunting alligators was banned. By...

GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions

Source: Official Guide

Critical Reasoning

Weaken

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In the 1960s, surveys of Florida's alligator population indicated that the population was dwindling rapidly. Hunting alligators was banned. By the early 1990s, the alligator population had recovered, and restricted hunting was allowed. Over the course of the 1990s, reports of alligators appearing on golf courses and lawns increased dramatically. Therefore, in spite of whatever alligator hunting went on, the alligator population must have increased significantly over the decade of the 1990s.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

The human population of Florida increased significantly during the 1990s.

The hunting restrictions applied to commercial as well as private hunters.

The number of sightings of alligators in lakes and swamps increased greatly in Florida during the 1990s.

Throughout the 1990s, selling alligator products was more strictly regulated than hunting was.

Most of the sightings of alligators on golf courses and lawns in the 1990s occurred at times at which few people were present on those golf courses and lawns.

Solution

Passage Analysis:

Text from Passage	Analysis
In the 1960s, surveys of Florida's alligator population indicated that the population was dwindling rapidly.	What it says: Alligator numbers were dropping fast in the 1960s What it does: Sets up the initial problem that needed solving What it is: Survey findings Visualization: 1960s: Alligator population declining sharply ↓↓↓
Hunting alligators was banned.	What it says: Government stopped allowing people to hunt alligators What it does: Shows the response to the declining population problem What it is: Policy decision
By the early 1990s, the alligator population had recovered, and restricted hunting was allowed.	What it says: Alligator numbers bounced back by early 1990s, so limited hunting resumed What it does: Shows the ban worked and connects to the next time period What it is: Population recovery evidence Visualization: Early 1990s: Population recovered ↑↑↑ (enough to allow some hunting again)
Over the course of the 1990s, reports of alligators appearing on golf courses and lawns increased dramatically.	What it says: Way more sightings of alligators in places like golf courses during the 1990s What it does: Introduces new evidence about alligator behavior/presence in the 1990s What it is: Observational data Visualization: 1990s: Golf course/lawn sightings ↑↑↑ dramatically
Therefore, in spite of whatever alligator hunting went on, the alligator population must have increased significantly over the decade of the 1990s.	What it says: Even with some hunting happening, alligator numbers definitely grew a lot in the 1990s What it does: Draws the main conclusion from the golf course sighting evidence What it is: Author's conclusion

Argument Flow:

The argument moves from historical context (1960s decline and recovery) to present a specific claim about the 1990s. It uses the dramatic increase in golf course and lawn sightings as evidence to conclude that the population grew significantly during that decade.

Main Conclusion:

The alligator population must have increased significantly over the 1990s, even though some hunting was allowed.

Logical Structure:

The argument assumes that more sightings of alligators on golf courses and lawns directly means there are more alligators overall. The logic is: More sightings = bigger population. This assumes no other factors could explain why we'd see more alligators in these specific places.

Prethinking:

Question type:

Weaken - We need to find information that would reduce our belief in the conclusion that alligator population increased significantly in the 1990s

Precision of Claims

The conclusion makes a specific claim about population quantity (significant increase) during a specific time period (1990s) based on frequency evidence (dramatically increased sightings on golf courses/lawns)

Strategy

The argument assumes that more alligator sightings on golf courses and lawns directly means more alligators overall. We need to find alternative explanations for why sightings increased that don't require the population to have grown significantly. Think about what else could cause more human-alligator encounters without actual population growth

Answer Choices Explained

The human population of Florida increased significantly during the 1990s.

This directly weakens the argument by providing an alternative explanation for increased sightings. If Florida's human population grew significantly in the 1990s, we'd expect more golf courses, more lawns, more people to witness alligators, and more human-alligator encounters - all without requiring the alligator population itself to increase. This breaks the assumed connection between 'more sightings' and 'more alligators.' This weakens the argument.

The hunting restrictions applied to commercial as well as private hunters.

This tells us that hunting restrictions applied to both commercial and private hunters, but this doesn't weaken the conclusion about population growth. If anything, broader hunting restrictions might support the idea that the population could grow. This doesn't provide an alternative explanation for increased sightings. This doesn't weaken the argument.

The number of sightings of alligators in lakes and swamps increased greatly in Florida during the 1990s.

This actually strengthens the argument rather than weakening it. If alligator sightings increased in their natural habitats (lakes and swamps) as well as on golf courses and lawns, this provides additional evidence that the overall alligator population really did increase significantly. This strengthens rather than weakens the argument.

Throughout the 1990s, selling alligator products was more strictly regulated than hunting was.

Information about regulation of alligator product sales versus hunting regulations doesn't directly impact the conclusion about population growth in the 1990s. The relative strictness of these different regulations doesn't provide an alternative explanation for why golf course and lawn sightings increased dramatically. This doesn't weaken the argument.

Most of the sightings of alligators on golf courses and lawns in the 1990s occurred at times at which few people were present on those golf courses and lawns.

The timing of when people were present during alligator sightings doesn't challenge the conclusion that population increased. Whether sightings occurred when few people were around or when many people were around doesn't change the fact that sightings increased dramatically or provide an alternative explanation for this increase. This doesn't weaken the argument.

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