QUESTION TEXT: Ants sometimes live in hollow places in…
QUESTION TYPE: Weaken
CONCLUSION: An explanation for the superior health of orchids housing ants is that the organic matter stored by the ants provides additional nutrients.
REASONING: A certain orchid species houses ants in hollow spaces. The ants store organic matter in the spaces. The orchids that house ants tend to be healthier than the orchids that do not.
ANALYSIS: This is an interesting Weaken question, because the question stem gives us the method of weakening. We’re told that the correct answer will contain an alternative explanation.
___________
- This isn’t an alternative explanation. In fact, it relies on the other explanation. If the breakdown of stored matter benefits the orchids, that benefit is because the matter provides additional nutrients.
- This refutes the first explanation, but is not an explanation in itself. The question stem told us to look for an alternative explanation.
- CORRECT. This gives a reason for the better health other than the stored matter. The ants are protecting the orchids from predators.
- This strengthens the conclusion by eliminating a potential alternative explanation. We need an answer that contains
- This weakens the conclusion, but is not an alternative explanation. We need an alternative explanation.
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