Most Strongly SupportedDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A biologist argues that goats on islands don't get smaller just to help the whole group survive; they only get smaller if being small actually helps an individual goat have more babies.
Reasoning: No reasoning (Fact Set).
Analysis: The biologist is rejecting a 'group selection' theory—the idea that traits evolve for the good of the species—in favor of 'individual selection,' where only reproductive success matters. We are looking for a statement that must be true if the biologist's rule is absolute. If the biologist is right, then any trait that doesn't help with individual reproduction won't become more common just because it helps the species as a whole. Look for an answer that reinforces this strict link between individual reproductive success and the frequency of a trait.
Reasoning: No reasoning (Fact Set).
Analysis: The biologist is rejecting a 'group selection' theory—the idea that traits evolve for the good of the species—in favor of 'individual selection,' where only reproductive success matters. We are looking for a statement that must be true if the biologist's rule is absolute. If the biologist is right, then any trait that doesn't help with individual reproduction won't become more common just because it helps the species as a whole. Look for an answer that reinforces this strict link between individual reproductive success and the frequency of a trait.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage22.The biologist's view, if true, provides the most support for which one of the following?
Correct Answer
D
Given the claim that only reproductive success affects trait frequency, a pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool (which is not inherently about small goats reproducing more than large goats) would not itself increase the frequency of small size. That’s exactly what D states.
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