Reading comp PrepTest 124 · Section 4 · Question 26

Passage

Questions 20-27  .        Sometimes there is no more effective means of  . controlling an agricultural pest than giving free Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary

Topic: Science


Paragraph 1

  • Paragraph note
    • A generalization and an example
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Generalization - Sometimes, best pest control is using a predator
    • Example - Cyclamen (Cyc) (pest)/Typhlodromus (Typh) (predator mite)
    • Usual cycle - Cyc infest, get out of control year 2, Typh move in and control them

Paragraph 2

  • Paragraph note
    • Features of Typh that make them work
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Hungry
    • Reproduction - method and rate (Similar to Cyc)
    • Seasonal and population densities
    • Reproduce only when there’s cyc
    • Similar - Other predators that can control prey

Paragraph 3

  • Paragraph note
    • Study - Typh works
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • Study - Greenhouse experiments - Strawberries (one with both, one with just Cyc and insecticide)
    • Results - Just Cyc = out of control; Both = Cyc under control

Paragraph 4

  • Paragraph note
    • Study backed up in real world
  • Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
    • In study, insecticide more harm than good
    • Real-world studies show same thing
    • Average - Cyc population 25x with no predators

Main Point: In some cases, the most effective means of controlling an agricultural pest is by using its predator, as is exemplified by the Cyclamen/Typhlodromus relationship.

Key Lines?

Lines 1-3 - A generalization is presented

Lines 4-6 - A specific example is noted

Lines 15-16 - List of factors owing to effectiveness introduced

Lines 33-37 - Features generalized to other predators

Lines 37-40 - Studies verify generalization

Lines 52-54 - Studies backed up in real world

Meta-Structure?

Generalization/Example - This question is one of the best examples (pun intended) of the Generalization/Example Meta-Structures in the history of the exam. It starts out by making a very general - yet strong - statement about a particularly effective means of controlling a pest population. It then goes into “[a] case in point” that it spends the rest of the passage exploring. When this Meta-Structure is present, the main point is the generalization, and the correct answer to any main point question will generally reference the example, as well - though it sometimes doesn’t.

List - Paragraph 2 is a list of “several factors” that explain why Typh is such an effective predator and can keep Cyc in check. That paragraph even generalizes from Typh to other predators in the last sentence (Lines 33-37), which reinforces the Generalization/Example Meta-Structure above.

Similarities - Paragraph 2 has a lot of comparisons in its list of factors. There are similarities between Typh and Cyc that makes Typh such an effective predator, and similarities between Typh and other predators that show a pattern to what makes for an effective predator.

Last Thoughts?

Paragraph 2 is difficult. There are a lot of details in there, and so we should be sure to head back there for any question that talks about similarities, any of the individual points of comparison/factors, or anything that sounds sciency, as that paragraph is the scienciest paragraph in the passage (yes, we just made up those words).

Paragraph 4 is interesting - it takes the studies from Paragraph 3 and shows that they pan out in the real world. One inherent flaw in any study is that it doesn’t necessarily represent the real world, but this passage gets around that to an extent by showing that the results can be found outside of a lab setting.

Question prompt

Which one of the Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: E

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Question Type

Science

Strategy Overview

Review the Author’s main point, then find an answer that supports it

Answer Anticipation

This question asks us to strengthen the Author’s argument about the “practical applicability” of the information about the relationship between Cyc and Typh in the passage. The Author argues that this relationship exemplifies a generalization - that at least in some cases the best way to control an agricultural pest is to let its predators do the job.In asking about the practical applicability, though, this question isn’t asking about theory - it’s asking us to find an answer showing that this method would actually work in the real world. As such, while we could look for an answer that provides more information that Typh could, in theory, control Cyc, we should be looking for an answer that addresses a practical consideration of it working.Since the whole passage was about this topic, we shouldn’t spend a lot of time considering potential answers - there are likely too many to effectively anticipate the correct one. Let’s find an answer that directly supports the practicality of using Typh to control Cyc.

Answer choices

  1. A
    The individual Typhlodromus mites Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited

    (A) (Lines 20-23) We just finished doing the math on the reproduction rates of the two types of mites. According to the passage, during their reproductive lifespans, Cycs lay 12-15 eggs, while Typhs lay 16-30 eggs. As such, even the least reproductive Typh outpaces the most reproductive Cyc, and so it doesn’t matter how the length and output of the reproductive cycles for an individual Typh (or Cyc) line up.

  2. B
    The insecticides that are Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited

    (B) The Author’s argument is that in some cases natural predators are a more effective means of controlling pest mites. As such, that there are insecticides out there that can control all mites doesn’t affect the argument - these alternatives could work, just not as effectively. And even ignoring that, suggesting an alternative means of controlling mites would cut against the argument, not support it!

  3. C
    In areas in which Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C is not credited

    (C) (Lines 27-32) Two issues here. First, the passage never says that Cycs dwindle in winter because of the weather or length - it could just be a seasonal pattern for them; even if it is related to the weather, it could be that even mild winters would drive them into hiding. Second, the Typh can survive periods of time without Cyc anyway!

  4. D
    Typhlodromus are sometimes preyed Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited

    (D) (Lines 43-45) If this answer does anything, it calls the results of the greenhouse experiments into question by suggesting that maybe the parathion had an effect that wasn’t accounted for - which would weaken the Author’s argument relying on those studies. In any case, even if the parathion kills off mites that prey on Typh, in the experiments, the Typh themselves were killed off by the parathion, so it really shouldn’t have changed much - and thus this answer doesn’t really have much of an impact on the passage.

  5. E
    Typhlodromus easily tolerate the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E matches the stem

    (E) (Lines 6-7) The Author’s general point is that, in at least some cases, relying on predators to take out an agricultural pest can be the most effective method. The example she presents is using Typh to control Cyc, the latter of which infests strawberry plants. In order for Typh to be a practical means of controlling the Cyc populations in strawberry fields, Typh would have to be able to survive in the climates where strawberries are grown. This answer establishes that they can, which allows the Author’s solution to be practical - marking this as the correct answer.

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 6%
  2. B 12%
  3. C 6%
  4. D 4%
  5. E Credited 72%

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