WeakenDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: A chimp made a lot of noise when he got a big bunch of bananas and his friends took them; the next day he got one banana, stayed quiet, and the keeper thinks he was being a sneaky genius.
Conclusion: The chimpanzee's silence was a calculated tactic intended to prevent other chimpanzees from noticing and taking his food.
Reasoning: Jocko barked when he had a large amount of food and lost it; he remained silent when he had a small amount of food and kept it.
Analysis: The zookeeper is anthropomorphizing Jocko by assuming his silence was a 'stratagem' or a deceptive plan. To weaken this, we need an alternative explanation for the silence that doesn't involve complex tactical thinking. Perhaps Jocko only barks when he is highly excited, and a single banana simply isn't bark-worthy compared to a whole bunch. If the silence is just a lack of excitement rather than a secret plan, the zookeeper's conclusion falls apart. Look for an answer that suggests the quantity of food, rather than a desire to deceive, dictated Jocko's vocalizations.
Conclusion: The chimpanzee's silence was a calculated tactic intended to prevent other chimpanzees from noticing and taking his food.
Reasoning: Jocko barked when he had a large amount of food and lost it; he remained silent when he had a small amount of food and kept it.
Analysis: The zookeeper is anthropomorphizing Jocko by assuming his silence was a 'stratagem' or a deceptive plan. To weaken this, we need an alternative explanation for the silence that doesn't involve complex tactical thinking. Perhaps Jocko only barks when he is highly excited, and a single banana simply isn't bark-worthy compared to a whole bunch. If the silence is just a lack of excitement rather than a secret plan, the zookeeper's conclusion falls apart. Look for an answer that suggests the quantity of food, rather than a desire to deceive, dictated Jocko's vocalizations.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage2.Which one of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the zookeeper's conclusion?
Correct Answer
B
If chimpanzees bark only when they find a sizable quantity of food, then Jocko’s silence with a single banana is expected and not evidence of a strategy. This alternative explanation undercuts the zookeeper’s conclusion about intent.
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