Distance from den (kilometers)Elk hunted in protected valley areasElk hunted in exposed mountain terrain0-247124-62386-83152-438158-10193Utilizing GPS...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
| Distance from den (kilometers) | Elk hunted in protected valley areas | Elk hunted in exposed mountain terrain |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | 47 | 12 |
| 4-6 | 23 | 8 |
| 6-8 | 31 | 5 |
| 2-4 | 38 | 15 |
| 8-10 | 19 | 3 |
Utilizing GPS tracking technology and prey examination methods, wildlife researcher Dr. Sarah Chen alongside her scientific team has been monitoring wolf pack predation behaviors throughout Yellowstone National Park. Their research indicates that wolves pursue elk within two distinct habitat types: sheltered valley environments, where prey species exhibit relaxed behavior and slower movement patterns, and open mountainous regions, where elk display heightened alertness and rapid escape responses to perceived threats. Sheltered valley environments offer more favorable hunting conditions, whereas mountainous regions demand greater energy expenditure and tactical cooperation among pack members. Drawing from their research findings, Chen's team determined that mountainous hunting requires substantially more effort from wolf packs, observing that ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the research team's conclusion?
the combined elk hunting totals across all distance ranges indicate that wolves favor valley hunting because of the greater prey availability in sheltered areas.
across every distance range from the den, the numerical disparity between the two hunting environments indicates that valley areas offered more easily accessible hunting prospects than mountainous terrain.
within the 0-2 kilometer range from the den, the greater number of valley hunts relative to mountain hunts indicates that wolves preserve energy by maintaining proximity to their home territory.
the fluctuation in hunting totals at various distances from the den indicates that prey populations varied seasonally between valley and mountainous regions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Utilizing GPS tracking technology and prey examination methods, wildlife researcher Dr. Sarah Chen alongside her scientific team has been monitoring wolf pack predation behaviors throughout Yellowstone National Park." |
|
| "Their research indicates that wolves pursue elk within two distinct habitat types: sheltered valley environments, where prey species exhibit relaxed behavior and slower movement patterns, and open mountainous regions, where elk display heightened alertness and rapid escape responses to perceived threats." |
|
| "Sheltered valley environments offer more favorable hunting conditions, whereas mountainous regions demand greater energy expenditure and tactical cooperation among pack members." |
|
| "Drawing from their research findings, Chen's team determined that mountainous hunting requires substantially more effort from wolf packs, observing that ______" |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Chen's research team found that wolves face significantly greater challenges when hunting elk in mountainous terrain compared to valley environments.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the research methodology, identifies two distinct hunting environments with different elk behaviors, explains why valleys offer easier hunting conditions while mountains require more effort, and concludes that mountain hunting demands substantially more effort, with missing observational evidence to support this conclusion.
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
- Looking at the data table, we can see that in every single distance range from the den (0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10), the number of elk hunted in valley areas is consistently higher than those hunted in mountain terrain
- This pattern across all distances suggests that valley hunting is more successful or easier, which would support the conclusion that mountain hunting requires more effort
- The right answer should reference this consistent pattern across all distance ranges and explain how this numerical difference supports the idea that valley hunting is easier/more accessible than mountain hunting, thereby supporting that mountain hunting is substantially harder
the combined elk hunting totals across all distance ranges indicate that wolves favor valley hunting because of the greater prey availability in sheltered areas.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions "combined elk hunting totals" and "greater prey availability"
- The conclusion isn't about prey availability - it's about hunting difficulty/effort required
- Misses the key point about effort differences between environments
across every distance range from the den, the numerical disparity between the two hunting environments indicates that valley areas offered more easily accessible hunting prospects than mountainous terrain.
✓ Correct
- References "across every distance range" - accurately describes the table pattern
- Notes "numerical disparity between the two hunting environments" - correctly identifies that valley numbers consistently exceed mountain numbers
- Connects this to "more easily accessible hunting prospects" - directly supports the conclusion about effort differences
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about the consistent pattern supporting easier valley hunting
within the 0-2 kilometer range from the den, the greater number of valley hunts relative to mountain hunts indicates that wolves preserve energy by maintaining proximity to their home territory.
✗ Incorrect
- Only focuses on the 0-2 kilometer range rather than the full pattern
- Makes it about "preserving energy by maintaining proximity" rather than the environmental hunting difficulty differences
- Students might focus on just one data point instead of recognizing the consistent pattern across all ranges
the fluctuation in hunting totals at various distances from the den indicates that prey populations varied seasonally between valley and mountainous regions.
✗ Incorrect
- Talks about "seasonal" variations, but the table doesn't provide any seasonal data
- Mentions "fluctuation in hunting totals" but misses that the consistent pattern actually supports the difficulty conclusion
- Students might see varying numbers and assume they indicate seasonal changes rather than recognizing the consistent valley > mountain pattern