Dr. Elena Rodriguez analyzed behavioral patterns of urban coyotes across five major metropolitan areas over a ten-year period. Her research...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Elena Rodriguez analyzed behavioral patterns of urban coyotes across five major metropolitan areas over a ten-year period. Her research challenges the prevailing assumption that urban coyotes simply adapt existing wild behaviors to city environments. Instead, Rodriguez argues that urban coyotes develop entirely novel behavioral repertoires unique to city living.
Which evidence from her study would be most relevant to strengthen Rodriguez's argument?
Urban coyotes maintain pack structures and hunting patterns nearly identical to their rural counterparts.
Urban coyotes show increased nocturnal activity compared to rural populations, likely due to reduced human activity at night.
Urban coyotes have developed cooperative food-sharing behaviors and use human infrastructure for denning in ways never observed in wild populations.
Urban coyotes demonstrate improved problem-solving abilities when navigating human-modified landscapes.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Dr. Elena Rodriguez analyzed behavioral patterns of urban coyotes across five major metropolitan areas over a ten-year period.' |
|
| 'Her research challenges the prevailing assumption that urban coyotes simply adapt existing wild behaviors to city environments.' |
|
| 'Instead, Rodriguez argues that urban coyotes develop entirely novel behavioral repertoires unique to city living.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Rodriguez argues that urban coyotes create completely new behaviors for city life rather than simply modifying their wild behaviors for urban environments.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Rodriguez research credentials, then presents the conventional thinking she challenges, and finally states her contrasting argument that these animals develop entirely novel behavioral repertoires unique to urban settings.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key to Rodriguez argument is that urban coyotes develop entirely novel behaviors - meaning behaviors that do not exist in wild populations at all
- To strengthen this argument, we need evidence showing urban coyotes doing something that wild coyotes have never been observed doing
Urban coyotes maintain pack structures and hunting patterns nearly identical to their rural counterparts.
✗ Incorrect
- States that urban and rural coyotes have nearly identical behaviors
- This directly contradicts Rodriguez argument about novel behaviors
Urban coyotes show increased nocturnal activity compared to rural populations, likely due to reduced human activity at night.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows increased nocturnal activity in urban vs rural populations
- This represents adaptation of existing behavior, not entirely novel behavior
Urban coyotes have developed cooperative food-sharing behaviors and use human infrastructure for denning in ways never observed in wild populations.
✓ Correct
- Shows cooperative food-sharing behaviors AND use of human infrastructure for denning never observed in wild populations
- This directly demonstrates entirely novel behavioral repertoires unique to city living
Urban coyotes demonstrate improved problem-solving abilities when navigating human-modified landscapes.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes improved problem-solving abilities in human environments
- This could represent enhanced existing abilities rather than entirely novel behaviors