While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The California condor population reached a critical low of only...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
The California condor population reached a critical low of only 27 birds in the wild by 1987. Habitat loss, lead poisoning from ammunition, and DDT contamination had devastated the species. The condor had once soared across much of western North America in large numbers. Scientists launched an intensive captive breeding program, capturing all remaining wild condors. The breeding program successfully increased condor numbers through careful genetic management. Today, over 500 California condors exist, with more than half living in the wild again.
The student wants to emphasize the success of conservation efforts to an audience unfamiliar with endangered species recovery. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The California condor population has recovered from just 27 wild birds in 1987 to over 500 today, with more than half now living in the wild, demonstrating the effectiveness of intensive captive breeding programs.
Habitat loss, lead poisoning, and DDT contamination reduced California condor numbers to only 27 wild birds by 1987.
Scientists captured all remaining wild California condors in 1987 to launch an intensive captive breeding program.
The California condor once soared across western North America in large numbers before declining to critical levels.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The California condor population reached a critical low of only 27 birds in the wild by 1987.' |
|
| 'Habitat loss, lead poisoning from ammunition, and DDT contamination had devastated the species.' |
|
| 'The condor had once soared across much of western North America in large numbers.' |
|
| 'Scientists launched an intensive captive breeding program, capturing all remaining wild condors.' |
|
| 'The breeding program successfully increased condor numbers through careful genetic management.' |
|
| 'Today, over 500 California condors exist, with more than half living in the wild again.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The California condor has made a remarkable recovery from near extinction through successful captive breeding conservation efforts.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a dramatic conservation success story by first presenting the species' critical low point of 27 birds, explaining the causes of decline, then showing how scientists' captive breeding program restored the population to over 500 birds with most returned to the wild.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the research information to emphasize conservation success.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that highlights how successful the conservation efforts were, specifically for an audience unfamiliar with species recovery.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most effectively' means we need the strongest example of success emphasis, and 'unfamiliar audience' means it should be clear and compelling to people who don't know much about endangered species recovery.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should show the dramatic transformation from crisis to recovery
- The right answer should clearly credit the conservation efforts for this success
- The right answer should use concrete numbers that make the success obvious to someone unfamiliar with species recovery
- So the right answer should present both the starting crisis point and the current success, while explicitly connecting this recovery to the conservation program
The California condor population has recovered from just 27 wild birds in 1987 to over 500 today, with more than half now living in the wild, demonstrating the effectiveness of intensive captive breeding programs.
- Shows the full success story from 27 birds to 500+
- Directly credits intensive captive breeding programs
- Uses numbers that dramatically illustrate success for an unfamiliar audience
Habitat loss, lead poisoning, and DDT contamination reduced California condor numbers to only 27 wild birds by 1987.
- Only mentions the problems that caused the decline
- Completely ignores the recovery and conservation success
Scientists captured all remaining wild California condors in 1987 to launch an intensive captive breeding program.
- Only describes the conservation action
- Doesn't show any results or success from these efforts
The California condor once soared across western North America in large numbers before declining to critical levels.
- Only provides historical context about past abundance and decline
- No information about conservation efforts or their success