Question 66 Answer and Explanation _ACT December 2013 Form 71E English Section

Passage V

With a Little Help from Friends

Quino checkerspot butterflies, each a red and black flutter of stained glass, ranging along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Canada. With temperatures rising in the butterflies’ southernmost habitats, plants that attract them are drying up, eliminating the insects’ food source at the caterpillar stage.

Conservation biologist Camille Parmesan, was dismayed to find that nearly three-fourths of the quino checkerspot population in southern California has vanished. On the other hand, those currently living now in the cool, wet climates of northern California and Canada are faring better. So, Parmesan has proposed a way to save the quarter-sized butterflies and that doing so, maintain biodiversity. Her plan, however, is raising eyebrows (66) .

Parmesan, along with others, advocates the use of “assisted migration,” which is an interesting and relatively new idea some biologists are considering. For migrating checkerspots, there’s an additional problem: Los Angeles lies directly in their path should they be inclined to try migrating to cooler climates. Parmesan is transporting cocoons north of L.A., hoping to augment the existing population by moving cocoons from one place to the other.

[1] Opponents of assisted migration sight as two deterrents the cost and the likelihood that human interference could turn a species into an invasive pest. [2] The cocoons are portable and, consequently, cheap to transport. [3] Parmesan, though, thinks the checkerspot is the perfect candidate for an assisted move. [4] She also notes that the butterfly isn’t prolific enough to endanger its adopted habitat. (71)

Even so, many biologists consider any assisted migration the hubris of people who believe you had a right to reorganize Earth. The temptation to interfere, says critics, is incompatible with preservation. Their caution frustrates Parmesan she believes such a mindset ignores the fact that the alternative outcome could be extinction. Doing nothing, she insists, ultimately outweighs any risk that comes from doing something.

66. The writer is considering adding the phrase “among some of her colleagues” here. Should the writer make this addition?

F. Yes, because it clarifies that people with similar expertise disagree, not just the general public.

G. Yes, because it explains the argument biologists have raised against assisted migration.

H. No, because Parmesan’s colleagues are not specifically named.

J. No, because it abruptly changes the focus from the quino checkerspot butterfly to Parmesan.

Answer and Explanation

Your Answer is

Correct Answer is F

Explanation

Question Intervention Add descriptions of eyebrows (among some of her colleagues). This needs to be added because it makes it clearer to the reader that the opposition Parmesan is attracting is from colleagues and not everyone. F option is satisfied.

Item G: The addition does not explain the arguments made by the biologists.

Item H: The failure to mention the specific name of Parmesan's colleague cannot be the reason for not adding it, because the added content is an explanation of eyebrows.

Item J: The purpose of this paragraph is to emphasize Parmesan's method of protecting butterflies. So Parmesan is also part of the gist.