PrepTest 117

Incorrect. This answer brings up a similarity between the captive and wild leatherbacks, and a difference between them and other reptiles, but that comparison is out of scope.

Incorrect. Similar to (A), this answer brings up a similarity between both leatherback turtle populations but a difference between them and other marine animals, but that difference is out of scope. We're trying to explain the similar outcomes in leatherback turtles, despite the diseases suffered by those in captivity.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Zoo leatherbacks suffer a lot of fatal diseases they wouldn't come into contact with in the wild, but wild leatherbacks and zoo leatherbacks are about as likely to make it to old age.

Answer Anticipation:
As with many Paradox questions, this one is all about the comparisons. So let's define the paradox and see how the comparison plays into it.

In the stimulus, we learn that zoo leatherbacks face a threat that wild ones don't—certain fatal diseases. This highlights a difference between the two populations. What's surprising, then, is that the two populations are similar in their likelihood of reaching their maximum age. If the zoo leatherbacks face fatal diseases their wild brethren don't, then why are they living as long?

We should anticipate an answer that brings up a comparison of some type, but we need to figure out if we're looking for a similarity or difference. Since we're told that a difference that would be expected to lead to a difference didn't, we should expect an answer that brings up another difference that can make the outcome similar.

In other words, something must be killing the wild leatherbacks that isn't killing the captive leatherbacks in order to even out their likelihood of reaching old age.

Answer Explanation:
This answer brings up a relevant difference between the wild and captive turtles that could explain the similar outcomes. If the wild turtles are largely killed by predators, that would be a threat they face that the captive turtles don't. This can explain how they end up just as likely to reach old age despite facing different threats.

Key Takeaway:
Paradox questions frequently bring up points of comparison. Sometimes, figuring out if the correct answer will be a relevant similarity or difference is straightforward, but other times there's a little bit of nuance to it. As we saw here, since the paradox was about both a difference and a similarity, we needed to think through what would result in an explanation.

Incorrect. This answer plays into the paradox—it suggests that the captive leatherbacks will suffer from diseases. However, it doesn't serve to explain why the wild leatherbacks aren't then more likely to reach old age.

Incorrect. There's no suggestion in the stimulus that it is, so this answer is out of scope.