Among Trinidadian guppies, males with large spots are more attractive to females than are males with small spots, who consequently are presented with less frequent mating opportunities. Yet guppies with small spots are more likely to avoid detection by predators, so in waters where predators are abundant only guppies with small spots live to maturity.

Summary
Male Trinidadian guppies with large spots are more attractive to females than males with small spots, who have fewer chances to mate. However, small-spotted guppies are better at avoiding predators, so in areas with many predators, only the small-spotted ones survive to maturity.

A trait that helps an organism in one situation (such as mating) might harm it in a different situation.
Some seemingly advantageous traits may ultimately have negative consequences in certain environments.

A
A trait that helps attract mates is sometimes more dangerous to one sex than to another.
Unsupported. The stimulus discusses the effects of spot size among male guppies, but does not discuss spot size among female guppies. So we do not know whether this trait is more dangerous to one sex than to another.
B
Those organisms that are most attractive to the opposite sex have the greatest number of offspring.
Unsupported. Large-spotted guppies are more attractive to females and thus have more frequent mating opportunities, but they are less likely to live to maturity in waters with many predators. We do not know whether they have the greatest number of offspring.
C
Those organisms that survive the longest have the greatest number of offspring.
Unsupported. Small-spotted guppies are more likely to live to maturity in waters with many predators, but they are also less attractive to females and thus have less frequent mating opportunities. We do not know which kind of guppy has the greatest number of offspring.
D
Whether a trait is harmful to the organisms of a species can depend on which sex possesses it.
Unsupported. Like answer choice A, the stimulus does not discuss spot size among female guppies. So we do not know whether this trait is more harmful to one sex than to another.
E
A trait that is helpful to procreation can also hinder it in certain environments.
Strongly supported. The stimulus closely conforms to this generalization because it shows that large spots among guppies are helpful in mating but harmful in waters with many predators.

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Cable TV stations have advantages that enable them to attract many more advertisers than broadcast networks attract. For example, cable stations are able to target particular audiences with 24-hour news, sports, or movies, whereas broadcast networks must offer a variety of programming. Cable can also offer lower advertising rates than any broadcast network can, because it is subsidized by viewers through subscriber fees. Additionally, many cable stations have expanded worldwide with multinational programming.

Summary
There are many advantages that allow cable TV stations to attract more advertisers than broadcast networks. They can target specific audiences with 24-hour news, sports, or movies, while broadcast networks need to provide a mix of programs. They can also charge lower advertising rates since they receive money from subscriber fees. Also, many cable channels have expanded globally with international programming.

Broadcast networks aren’t subsidized by viewers through subscriber fees.
Some advertisers prefer to run their ads on stations with viewers who watch 24-hour news, sports, or movies.
Some advertisers prefer to run their ads on a station with lower advertising rates.
Some advertisers prefer to run their ads on a station that has expanded worldwide.
Note: We’re seeking the answer choice that is not supported.

A
Some broadcast networks can be viewed in several countries.
Unsupported. The stimulus tells us that many cable stations have expanded worldwide and that this is an advantage that they have over broadcast networks. It does not discuss whether any broadcast networks can be viewed in several countries.
B
Broadcast networks do not rely on subscriber fees from viewers.
Strongly supported. Cable stations receive money from subscriber fees and this is an advantage that they have over broadcast networks. We can conclude then that broadcast networks do not rely on subscriber fees from viewers.
C
Low costs are often an important factor for advertisers in selecting a station or network on which to run a TV ad.
Strongly supported. Cable stations can attract many more advertisers than broadcast networks in part because they can charge lower advertising rates. We can thus conclude that advertising rates are important to advertisers who are deciding which network to run an ad on.
D
Some advertisers prefer to have the opportunity to address a worldwide audience.
Strongly supported. We are told that worldwide expansion is an one advantage that allows cable stations to attract more advertisers than broadcast networks. Thus, we can conclude that some advertisers prefer to have the opportunity to address a worldwide audience.
E
The audiences that some advertisers prefer to target watch 24-hour news stations.
Strongly supported. Cable stations can target audiences with 24-hour news, while broadcast networks cannot. This is advantageous to cable stations in attracting advertisers. Thus, some advertisers must prefer to target audiences that watch 24-hour news stations.

8 comments

Many scholars are puzzled about who created the seventeenth-century abridgment of Shakespeare’s Hamlet contained in the First Quarto. Two facts about the work shed light on this question. First, the person who undertook the abridgment clearly did not possess a copy of Hamlet. Second, the abridgment contains a very accurate rendering of the speeches of one of the characters, but a slipshod handling of all the other parts.

Summary

Some scholars are questioning who created the seventeenth-century abridgment of Hamlet. The person who undertook the abridgment did not possess a copy of Hamlet. The abridgment accurately renders the speeches of only one of the characters, and a poor rendering of all other parts.

Strongly Supported Conclusions

The abridgment was likely produced by an actor that played a single character’s role in Hamlet.

A
The abridgment was prepared by Shakespeare.

The facts we’re given about the abridgment do not support the idea that it was produced by Shakespeare.

B
The abridgment was created to make Hamlet easier to produce on stage.

We don’t know why the abridgment was created. The question the scholars are attempting to answer is who created the abridgment.

C
The abridgment was produced by an actor who had played a role in Hamlet.

If the facts about the abridgment are true, it fits that the abridgment was produced by an actor. An actor is likely to both not have a full copy of the play and only accurate memory of one of the character’s roles.

D
The abridgement was prepared by a spectator of a performance of Hamlet.

A spectator is unlikely to have produced an accurate rendering of one of the character’s speeches.

E
The abridgment was produced by an actor who was trying to improve the play.

Hamlet would not be improved by having an accurate rendering of one of the character’s roles and a poor rendering of all of the other character’s roles.


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Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text and music in Handel’s da capo arias. These texts are generally quite short and often repeated well beyond what is needed for literal understanding. Yet such criticism is refuted by noting that repetition serves a vital function: it frees the audience to focus on the music itself, which can speak to audiences whatever their language.

Summarize Argument: Counter-Position

The musicologist argues that critics’ disapproval of the imbalance between the short, repetitive texts and the music in Handel's da capo arias can be refuted. This is because the critics overlook the important role of repetition. Repetition allows the audience to concentrate on the music, which can communicate universally, regardless of language.

Identify Conclusion

The conclusion is the musicologist’s claim that the critics’ criticism of the imbalance between the short, repetitive texts and the music in Handel’s da capo arias can be refuted: “such criticism is refuted”.

A
Handel’s da capo arias contain a disproportionate amount of music.

This is context. It provides background on a common criticism of Handel’s da capo arias.

B
Handel’s da capo arias are superior to most in their accessibility to diverse audiences.

The musicologist does not make this claim. While the nature of the repetition allows it to speak to audiences regardless of language, the musicologist does not compare this ability to other music.

C
At least one frequent criticism of Handel’s da capo arias is undeserved.

This is the main point of the musicologist’s reasoning, which is that while many critics complain of the imbalance between the text and music in Handel’s da capo arias, this criticism can be refuted. In other words, it is undeserved.

D
At least some of Handel’s da capo arias contain unnecessary repetitions.

The musicologist does not claim the repetitions are unnecessary. The musicologist instead claims the repetitions serve a vital function.

E
Most criticism of Handel’s da capo arias is unwarranted.

This is not the musicologist’s conclusion. The conclusion is that one specific criticism of Handel’s da capo arias can be refuted, not that most criticisms can be.


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Baxe Interiors, one of the largest interior design companies in existence, currently has a near monopoly in the corporate market. Several small design companies have won prestigious awards for their corporate work, while Baxe has won none. Nonetheless, the corporate managers who solicit design proposals will only contract with companies they believe are unlikely to go bankrupt, and they believe that only very large companies are unlikely to go bankrupt.

Summary
The very large interior design company Baxe dominates the corporate design market. Baxe has never won an award for corporate design, but some small companies have won awards for corporate design. However, corporate decision-makers only want to work with companies which they think are unlikely to go bankrupt, and they think that only very large companies are unlikely to go bankrupt.

Strongly Supported Conclusions
It is strongly supported that corporate managers only solicit designs from very large companies. Also, at least some corporations probably receive a lower quality of interior design from Baxe than they could from an award-winning smaller company. Also, the quality of interior design is not the primary factor in who controls the corporate design market. Finally, Baxe’s near monopoly does not depend on producing the best designs.

A
There are other very large design companies besides Baxe, but they produce designs that are inferior to Baxe’s.
This is not supported. The stimulus says Baxe is “one of the largest” design companies, which implies that there are other very large design companies, but we know nothing about the quality of their designs.
B
Baxe does not have a near monopoly in the market of any category of interior design other than corporate interiors.
This is not supported. Corporate interior design is the only category the stimulus discusses, so we just don’t know how Baxe’s market share compares in other categories.
C
For the most part, designs that are produced by small companies are superior to the designs produced by Baxe.
This is not supported. We can infer that at least some small companies probably produce at least some designs better than those produced by Baxe, but we don’t know how many. This means we have no idea if it’s “most” or only a few.
D
At least some of the corporate managers who solicit design proposals are unaware that there are designs that are much better than those produced by Baxe.
This is not supported. All we know about corporate managers is that they only work with very large companies. It’s entirely possible that they know of better designs out there, but just care more about a company’s stability.
E
The existence of interior designs that are superior to those produced by Baxe does not currently threaten its near monopoly in the corporate market.
This is strongly supported. Because smaller companies have won awards and Baxe hasn’t, we can infer that there are some designs better than those produced by Baxe. We also know that corporate managers don’t work with smaller companies, thus leaving Baxe’s near monopoly safe.

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