Many scientists have believed that giraffes are solitary creatures, preferring to spend their time alone instead of with others. But...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Many scientists have believed that giraffes are solitary creatures, preferring to spend their time alone instead of with others. But observations of giraffes and their behavior in recent years has suggested that these animals may be more social than we once thought. For example, scientists Zoe Muller and Stephen Harris claim that giraffes may even help each other care for one another's newborns.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Muller and Harris's conclusion?
Female giraffes have been observed feeding young giraffes that aren't their direct offspring.
Confrontations between a younger and an older male giraffe are frequently observed.
Some female giraffes have been observed sniffing and licking their newborn offspring.
Giraffes are able to make sounds but are rarely observed communicating with others.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Many scientists have believed that giraffes are solitary creatures, preferring to spend their time alone instead of with others." |
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| "But observations of giraffes and their behavior in recent years has suggested that these animals may be more social than we once thought." |
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| "For example, scientists Zoe Muller and Stephen Harris claim that giraffes may even help each other care for one another's newborns." |
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Provide Passage Architecture and Core Elements
Main Point: Recent observations challenge the old belief that giraffes are solitary, suggesting they may actually be social animals who help care for each other's young.
Argument Flow: The passage presents the traditional scientific view that giraffes are loners, then introduces contrasting evidence from recent observations suggesting they're social, and provides a specific example from Muller and Harris about giraffes helping care for each other's newborns.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which finding would most directly support Muller and Harris's conclusion
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that would support their specific claim
Any limiting keywords? "most directly" - we need the strongest, most direct evidence
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
The right answer should tell us:
- It should provide evidence that giraffes actually do help care for each other's newborns
- It should show giraffes engaging in caregiving behavior toward young that aren't their own offspring
- It should demonstrate social cooperation around newborn care specifically
Female giraffes have been observed feeding young giraffes that aren't their direct offspring.
- Shows female giraffes feeding young that aren't their direct offspring
- This directly demonstrates giraffes helping care for each other's newborns and perfectly matches what Muller and Harris claim
Confrontations between a younger and an older male giraffe are frequently observed.
- Describes confrontations between male giraffes
- This shows aggressive behavior, not cooperative caregiving, and doesn't relate to caring for newborns at all
Some female giraffes have been observed sniffing and licking their newborn offspring.
- Shows giraffes caring for their OWN offspring
- Muller and Harris's claim is about caring for EACH OTHER'S newborns
- This is a trap for students who might think any newborn care supports the claim
Giraffes are able to make sounds but are rarely observed communicating with others.
- About communication abilities, not caregiving behavior
- Doesn't address newborn care at all and actually suggests giraffes don't communicate much