Question: Unlike any other bird, the hummingbird has ball-and-socket shoulder joints that allow it to rotate its wings 180 degrees in all directions. Hummingbirds also have the unique ability to perform several feats of acrobatic flight, such as flying backward, flying upside-down, and hovering.

If the above statements are true, they provide the most support for which of the following claims?

1. Some birds cannot hover.
2. It is not possible for a bird without ball-and-socket shoulder joints to fly backward or upside-down.
3. Birds without ball-and-socket shoulder joints develop alternative modes of acrobatic flight.
4. Birds that cannot perform acrobatic feats have no need to rotate their wings 180 degrees in all directions.
5. When other birds engage in acrobatic flight, their wings rotate less than 180 degrees.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: "Some" can represent any plural number. At the same time, people don't necessarily think of "some" as representing "all" or "most." "Some" has multiple connotations, and can be perceived as representing a relatively small fractional proportion of a total.

In this case, the idea is that all birds other than the hummingbird cannot hover. Clearly, if all birds other than the hummingbird cannot hover, then it is true that some birds cannot hover. The passage indicates that only hummingbirds can hover, which inference is actually somewhat debatable, then (A) is correct. Therefore the choice A “Some birds cannot hover” is correct.

The other given options:

Option B
It is not possible for a bird without ball-and-socket shoulder joints to fly backward or upside-down.- Incorrect. As information presented does not relate the ball and socket joint to the several feats of acrobatic flight. Though it might look like it is an obvious conclusion these 2 statements are separate and shouldn't be related as one implying another.

Option C
Birds without ball-and-socket shoulder joints develop alternative modes of acrobatic flight.- Incorrect.The argument uses the word “unlike”. This shows that a hummingbird has ball-and-socket shoulder joints that allow it to rotate its wings 180 degrees in all directions. They also have the unique ability to perform several feats of acrobatic flight, such as flying backward, flying upside-down, and hovering.

Option D
Birds that cannot perform acrobatic feats have no need to rotate their wings 180 degrees in all directions.- Incorrect. Even if a bird can not perform acrobatic feats, it still needs to rotate its wings for the bird to fly.

Option E
When other birds engage in acrobatic flight, their wings rotate less than 180 degrees.- Incorrect. In order for a bird to engage in an acrobatic flight, it needs to rotate its wings. Like the hummingbird it has ball-and-socket shoulder joints that allow it to rotate its wings 180 degrees in all directions. This gives them he unique ability to perform several feats of acrobatic flight,

“Unlike any other bird, the hummingbird has ball-and-socket shoulder”- is a GMAT critical reasoning topic. This GMAT critical comes with five options and candidates need to choose the one which is correct. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates.

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