Question: Scientists studying climate change have found that global warming not only increases the temperature of the planet but also leads, on average, to an earlier arrival of the spring season and a later arrival of the autumn season. Though some argue that this effect on the seasons is advantageous because it increases the length of the summer growing season, leaders of the World Wildlife Fund fear that many animal species will not be able to adapt to the altered season lengths and will thus soon face extinction.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best evidence in support of the view held by the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund?

(A) When spring arrives earlier than usual, most species of hibernating mammals are forced to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual and to find alternative food sources to supplement their regular diets.
(B) As the planet's temperature rises, the average global sea surface temperature also rises, endangering several marine organisms that reside near the sea surface and that can only survive within very narrow temperature windows.
(C) Many species of salmon rely on seasonal changes in temperature to signal the start of their annual migrations and will leave their freshwater birthplaces early if spring arrives early; as a result, the populations of several types of freshwater insects consumed by those species of salmon will grow exponentially, infesting thousands of acres of crops on which humans rely.
(D) The young of many species of birds and rodents feed exclusively on caterpillars, whose metamorphosis into butterflies is triggered by seasonal changes in temperature.
(E) As the length of the summer growing season increases, the amount of carbon emissions produced by humans gradually increases, exacerbating the increase in global temperatures that will likely endanger hundreds of animal species.

Correct Answer: D
Explanation:

On the GMAT's critical reasoning portion, analytical and critical thinking abilities are assessed. To answer clearly, a person must possess strong cognitive abilities.

Let’s check the given choices -

A: Incorrect

It is an incorrect choice. However, it does not prove that the alteration would have an impact on the animal's capacity to survive. This information just shows how different season lengths can effect an animal. It's true that the animals would be "forced" to locate new food sources, but there's no proof that they wouldn't succeed in doing so. To infer that this would cause extinctions would require a significant amount of supposition. A is easily eliminated

B: Incorrect

It is the wrong choice. This illustration demonstrates how global warming may put some species in risk, but WWF leaders are more concerned about the lengthening of the seasons than they are about global warming as a whole. This information does not support the logic of the WWF leaders, but it does indicate that particular species may be at risk from global warming. One may delete (B).

C: Incorrect

It is an incorrect choice. Here is an illustration of how the shortened seasons can negatively affect one kind of animal: people. Choice (C) can be disregarded since it does not imply that humans will be unable to adapt to the changes or that they will not be able to live as a species as a result of the changes.

D: Correct

It is the correct answer. "The young of several species of birds and rodents feed primarily on caterpillars," says option (D). If caterpillars are the only food for several bird and rodent species' young and spring arrives early, then all or most of the caterpillars may develop into butterflies before the young hatch. Young who lose their only food supply may not survive this consequence.

E: Incorrect

It is an incorrect answer. This illustration illustrates a potential drawback of the modified season durations. Choice (E) contrasts this by showing a GRADUAL change, indicating that no creatures will go extinct anytime soon. Furthermore, this illustration doesn't demonstrate how animals won't be able to survive as a result of their inability to adjust to the shorter season durations.

“Scientists studying climate change have found that global warming not” – is a GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

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