Text 1Dominique Potvin and colleagues captured five Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) to test a new design for attaching tracking devices...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Dominique Potvin and colleagues captured five Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) to test a new design for attaching tracking devices to birds. As the researchers fitted each magpie with a tracker attached by a small harness, they noticed some magpies without trackers pecking at another magpie's tracker until it broke off. The researchers suggest that this behavior could be evidence of magpies attempting to help another magpie without benefiting themselves.
Text 2
It can be tempting to think that animals are deliberately providing help when we see them removing trackers and other equipment from one another, especially when a species is known to exhibit other cooperative behaviors. At the same time, it can be difficult to exclude the possibility that individuals are simply interested in the equipment because of its novelty, curiously pawing or pecking at it until it detaches.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the researchers' perspective in Text 1 on the behavior of the magpies without trackers?
That behavior might have been due to the novelty of the magpies' captive setting rather than to the novelty of the tracker.
That behavior likely indicates that the magpies were deliberately attempting to benefit themselves by obtaining the tracker.
That behavior may not be evidence of selflessness in Gymnorhina tibicen because not all the captured magpies demonstrated it.
That behavior might be adequately explained without suggesting that the magpies were attempting to assist the other magpie.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dominique Potvin and colleagues captured five Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) to test a new design for attaching tracking devices to birds." |
|
| "As the researchers fitted each magpie with a tracker attached by a small harness, they noticed some magpies without trackers pecking at another magpie's tracker until it broke off." |
|
| "The researchers suggest that this behavior could be evidence of magpies attempting to help another magpie without benefiting themselves." |
|
| "It can be tempting to think that animals are deliberately providing help when we see them removing trackers and other equipment from one another, especially when a species is known to exhibit other cooperative behaviors." |
|
| "At the same time, it can be difficult to exclude the possibility that individuals are simply interested in the equipment because of its novelty, curiously pawing or pecking at it until it detaches." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 presents researchers who interpret magpie behavior as altruistic helping, while Text 2 suggests we should consider simpler explanations like curiosity about novel objects.
Argument Flow: Text 1 describes a study where researchers observe magpies removing trackers from other magpies and conclude this shows helping behavior. Text 2 responds by suggesting we shouldn't jump to conclusions about animal altruism when simpler explanations (like curiosity about new objects) could account for the same behavior.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How would Text 2's author respond to Text 1's researchers' perspective on the magpie behavior
What type of answer do we need? Text 2 author's likely reaction/critique of Text 1's interpretation
Any limiting keywords? None specified
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The author of Text 2 is essentially saying "hold on, don't be so quick to assume this is helping behavior."
- They're arguing that what looks like altruism might just be curiosity about unfamiliar objects.
- So Text 2's author would likely respond to Text 1's researchers by suggesting their interpretation might be wrong - that there could be a simpler, non-altruistic explanation for why magpies remove trackers.
- The key elements the correct answer must have:
- Challenges or questions the researchers' helping/altruism interpretation
- Suggests the behavior could be explained without assuming the magpies intended to help
- Aligns with Text 2's emphasis on curiosity/novelty as an alternative explanation
That behavior might have been due to the novelty of the magpies' captive setting rather than to the novelty of the tracker.
- The correct answer should indicate that Text 2's author would suggest the magpie behavior doesn't necessarily prove altruism and could have a simpler explanation based on curiosity about novel objects rather than deliberate helping behavior.
That behavior likely indicates that the magpies were deliberately attempting to benefit themselves by obtaining the tracker.
- The correct answer should indicate that Text 2's author would suggest the magpie behavior doesn't necessarily prove altruism and could have a simpler explanation based on curiosity about novel objects rather than deliberate helping behavior.
That behavior may not be evidence of selflessness in Gymnorhina tibicen because not all the captured magpies demonstrated it.
- The correct answer should indicate that Text 2's author would suggest the magpie behavior doesn't necessarily prove altruism and could have a simpler explanation based on curiosity about novel objects rather than deliberate helping behavior.
That behavior might be adequately explained without suggesting that the magpies were attempting to assist the other magpie.
- The correct answer should indicate that Text 2's author would suggest the magpie behavior doesn't necessarily prove altruism and could have a simpler explanation based on curiosity about novel objects rather than deliberate helping behavior.