Scientists have long believed that giraffes are mostly silent and communicate only visually with one another. But biologist Angela Stöger...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Scientists have long believed that giraffes are mostly silent and communicate only visually with one another. But biologist Angela Stöger and her team analyzed hundreds of hours of recordings of giraffes in three European zoos and found that giraffes make a very low-pitched humming sound. The researchers claim that the giraffes use these sounds to communicate when it's not possible for them to signal one another visually.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Stöger and her team's claim?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Scientists have long believed that giraffes are mostly silent and communicate only visually with one another." |
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| "But biologist Angela Stöger and her team analyzed hundreds of hours of recordings of giraffes in three European zoos and found that giraffes make a very low-pitched humming sound." |
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| "The researchers claim that the giraffes use these sounds to communicate when it's not possible for them to signal one another visually." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[ESTABLISHED BELIEF] Scientists: giraffes silent, visual only → [NEW DISCOVERY] Stöger's team: found humming sounds → [CLAIM/HYPOTHESIS] Humming = communication when visual not possible
Main Point: New research suggests giraffes use humming sounds to communicate when they cannot see each other, challenging the belief that they only communicate visually.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from established scientific belief to new contradictory evidence, then presents the researchers' explanation for this new discovery.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which finding would most directly support the researchers' claim
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that would strengthen/support the specific claim about when giraffes use humming
Any limiting keywords? "most directly support" - we need the strongest, most direct evidence
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The claim is that giraffes use humming to communicate when visual communication isn't possible. So the right answer should:
- Show a connection between lack of visual ability and humming behavior
- Demonstrate that giraffes hum specifically in situations where they can't see each other
- Provide direct evidence linking humming to circumstances where visual communication fails
- States giraffes have excellent vision and can see in color
- This doesn't connect humming behavior to situations where visual communication isn't possible
- Shows giraffes only produced humming at night when they couldn't see each other
- Directly demonstrates the connection between inability to see and humming behavior
- States wild giraffes have never been recorded humming
- This would actually weaken the claim by suggesting the behavior might be artificial or limited to captivity
- Mentions other animals in zoos humming
- This is irrelevant to supporting the specific claim about giraffe communication patterns