Question: The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year around, and a group of voles living together consists primarily of an extended family, often including two or more litters. Voles commonly live in large groups from late autumn to winter; from spring through early autumn, however, most voles live in far smaller groups. The seasonal variation in groups size can probably be explained by a seasonal variation in mortality among young voles.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the explanation above?

(A) It is the spring and in the early summer that prairie vole communities generally contain the highest proportion of young voles.
(B) Prairie vole populations vary dramatically in size from year to year.
(C) The prairie vole subsists primarily on broad-leaved plants that are abundant only in spring.
(D) Winters in prairie vole's habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing.
(E) Snakes, a major predator of young prairie voles, are active only from spring through early autumn.

Correct Answer: E
Explanation: Choice E is the correct answer choice. As per the argument of the passage, the deviation in group size is associated with the mortality rate in young voles. It has been analyzed that groups of voles reduce to the least from the period of spring to early autumn. Since snakes are active from spring to early autumn, they consume young voles. As a result, it tends to cause smaller groups of young voles during that time. Therefore, this option satisfies the argument in the passage.

Option A
It is the spring and in the early summer that prairie vole communities generally contain the highest proportion of young voles - Incorrect. The statement does not support the claim of the passage. It has been clearly mentioned in the passage in the spring the group of young voles get diminished.

Option B
Prairie vole populations vary dramatically in size from year to year- Incorrect. The statement does not state enough facts to establish the content of the passage. Therefore, it holds irrelevant information that does not support the argument of the passage.

Option C
The prairie vole subsists primarily on broad-leaved plants that are abundant only in spring - Incorrect. The statement in this option infers that the population of voles seems to increase in spring. Therefore, the statement goes against the argument of the passage and hence gets eliminated.

Option D
Winters in prairie vole's habitat are often harsh, with temperatures that drop well below freezing - Incorrect. The passage clearly depicts that during winter, the population of voles gets increased whereas, during spring, the population gets reduced. There is nothing stated in the passage to relate young voles to seasonal deviation in mortality. Therefore, the statement is irrelevant and hence gets eliminated.

“The prairie vole, a small North American grassland rodent, breeds year”- is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT critical emerges with five options and candidates must select the one which is correct. GMAT critical reasoning evaluates the rational and logical aptitudes of the candidates.

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