Forest fragmentation occurs when development severs a continuous area of forest, breaking it down into small patches. Some animals, such as white-footed mice, thrive in conditions of forest fragmentation, reaching their highest population densities in small forest patches. These mice are the main carrier of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a debilitating illness that is often transmitted from white-footed mice to humans by deer ticks.

Summary
Forest fragmentation happens when development cuts large forests into smaller pieces. Some animals, like white-footed mice, thrive and multiply in these conditions. These mice are the main carrier of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, which is passed to humans by deer ticks that bite the mice. Lyme disease is a debilitating illness.

Strongly Supported Conclusions
Forest fragmentation can be beneficial for some animals.
Combatting forest fragmentation may decrease populations of white-footed mice.
Combatting forest fragmentation may lessen instances of Lyme disease among humans.
Combatting forest fragmentation can be beneficial for human health.

A
White-footed mice are very rarely found in unfragmented forests.
This is unsupported. The stimulus only tells us that white-footed mice thrive in fragmented forests, but gives no information about their existence or wellbeing in unfragmented forests.
B
The population density for most species of small animals increases when a continuous area of forest becomes fragmented.
This is unsupported. The stimulus only speaks to the population density of white-footed mice in fragmented forests. It gives no information about the population-density of any other species of small animals.
C
Forest fragmentation reduces the number and variety of animal species that an area can support.
This is unsupported. The stimulus does not tell us about the effects of forest fragmentation on other animal species apart from white-footed mice or on the biodiversity of an area as a whole.
D
Efforts to stop the fragmentation of forests can have a beneficial effect on human health.
This is strongly supported. Stopping forest fragmentation can decrease the population density of white-footed mice, which carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Thus, it can have a beneficial effect on human health by reducing the risk of Lyme disease.
E
Deer ticks reach their highest population densities in small forest patches.
This is unsupported. We are told that white-footed mice reach their highest population densities in small forest patches. The only thing we know about deer ticks is that they can transmit Lyme disease.

6 comments

Social critic: The whole debate over the legal right of rock singers to utter violent lyrics misses the point. Legally, there is very little that may not be said. But not everything that may legally be said, ought to be said. Granted, violence predates the rise in popularity of such music. Yet words also have the power to change the way we see and the way we act.

Summary

The debate over the legal right of rock singers to say violent lyrics misses the point. There is legally very little that cannot be said. Not everything that can legally be said ought to be said. Violence came before the popularity of violent lyrics in music. Words can change how we see and how we act.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

There could be a relationship between violent song lyrics and violent views and actions.

A
If rock music that contains violent lyrics is morally wrong, then it should be illegal.

This is anti-supported because the author states that very little speech is illegal and that there is a difference between things that are legal and things that ought to be said. The author doesn’t advocate making any speech illegal.

B
The law should be changed so that the government is mandated to censor rock music that contains violent lyrics.

This is unsupported because the author does not advocate for a change in laws, and the author draws a distinction between what can be said legally versus what ought to be said.

C
Violent rock song lyrics do not incite violence, they merely reflect the violence in society.

This is anti-supported because the author states that words can influence how we act, meaning the author thinks it is possible for violent lyrics to lead to some violent acts.

D
If rock musicians voluntarily censor their violent lyrics, this may help to reduce violence in society.

This is strongly supported because the author states that words, exemplified by violent lyrics, can affect how people act. This means that choosing not to speak violent lyrics could reduce violent acts.

E
Stopping the production of rock music that contains violent lyrics would eliminate much of the violence within society.

This is unsupported because the author concedes that violent acts predate violent lyrics. While the author thinks there is a connection between words and actions, it is unclear that stopping these lyrics would eliminate “much” violence.


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