Logical reasoning PrepTest 122 · Section 1 · Question 8

Incorrect. First, altering the pitch doesn't necessarily make the alarm call different—it could be the same call at a different pitch. Second, the number of predators doesn't address the paradox in the stimulus about different types of predators.

Incorrect. This answer might explain why the monkeys would use different alarm calls for different land—based predators, but it doesn't explain the difference between the land— and air—based predator calls.

Incorrect. Even if true, this answer wouldn't explain why the different calls are used to distinguish between threats from different areas. At most, it might explain why sometimes the call is made about a threat from the wrong location, but that's not mentioned at all in the stimulus.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Vervet monkeys use different warnings for land— and air—based predators.

Answer Anticipation:
This Paradox question asks about why vervet monkeys would use different alarm calls to denote different threats—land—based and air—based ones. Why would that information be important to convey? It would be important only if the vervet monkeys had different reactions to the different threats. If the monkeys always respond to predators by doing the same thing, then there would be no reason to have any alarm call other than—Danger!"

For example, if the monkeys avoided land—based predators by heading into trees, but air—based ones by hiding under bushes, then there's a reason to have different calls.

Answer Explanation:
This answer highlights different reactions to predators that attack from different places, thus explaining why different alarm calls depending on that location would be useful.

Key Takeaway:
In Paradox questions, differences are generally explained by other relevant differences, and similarities are generally explained by other relevant similarities.

Incorrect. While this answer does highlight a difference between the land—based predators and the air—based ones, it's not relevant to the calls being made. In either case, there's a predator around—it doesn't matter if it eats other things, as well, as the monkey would still want to avoid being eaten themselves.