MGMAT CAT 3 - RC - Javan Rhino

[aagha.ali]

Measuring more than five feet tall and ten feet long, the Javan rhinoceros is often called the rarest large mammal on earth. None exist in zoos. Like the Indian rhino, the Javan has only one horn; African and Sumatran rhinos have two. While the Javan rhino habitat once extended across southern Asia, now there are fewer than one hundred of the animals in Indonesia and under a dozen in Vietnam. Very little is known about Javan rhinos because they lead secretive and solitary lives in remote jungles. Until recently, scientists debated whether females even have horns, and most scientific work has had to rely on DNA garnered from dung.
The near extinction of the Javan rhino is the direct result of human actions. For centuries, farmers, who favored the same habitat, viewed them as crop eating pests and shot them on sight. During the colonial period, hunters slaughtered thousands. Now, human efforts to save them may well prove futile. The Vietnamese herd is probably doomed, as too few remain to maintain the necessary genetic variation. Rhinos from Java cannot supplement the Vietnamese numbers because in the millions of years since Indonesia separated from the mainland, the two groups have evolved into separate sub-species. In Indonesia, the rhinos are protected on the Ujung Kulon peninsula, which is unsettled by humans, and still have sufficient genetic diversity to have a chance at survival. Ironically, however, the lack of human disturbance allows mature forests to replace the shrubby vegetation the animals prefer. Thus, human benevolence may prove little better for these rhinos than past human maltreatment.



Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A-Javan rhinos are one of the most endangered animals on the planet.

B-More is known about the genetics of the Javan rhino than is known about its mating patterns.

C-Hunters killed more Javan rhinos in Vietnam than in Indonesia.

D-Most animal extinctions are the result of human actions.

E-Genetic diversity is the most important factor for the survival of a species.



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The answer according to the explanation in the CAT says option B as the correct choice. This really does not make sense to me, as from my perspective infer means without assumption, and from the passage. How is this answer option suggested from the passage? Would appreciate some light on this.
Thanks

[tim]

The rhinos lead secretive and solitary lives, so it's not much of a stretch to conclude we don't know much about their mating patterns. On the other hand, the passage says quite a bit about their genetic makeup. The biggest thing to note here though is that all the other answer choices are ridiculous.. :)

[Meerak869]

I got stuck between B and E.
I selected E from below sentence

In Indonesia, the rhinos are protected on the Ujung Kulon peninsula, which is unsettled by humans, and still have sufficient genetic diversity to have a chance at survival.

please explain why E is incorrect and B is correct choice?

[tim]

Tell us your reasoning first.

[Meerak869]

Tell us your reasoning first.

According to the passage, it is mentioned that

In Indonesia, the rhinos have sufficient genetic diversity to have a chance at survival.

hence I felt the author opined Genetic diversity to be a very important factor for survival of species.
i.e., option E. I agree the option uses extreme word most.

E-Genetic diversity is the most important factor for the survival of a species.

But there is no mention of mating patterns in passage hence I do not feel convince that Bis the answer. Now please clarify.

B-More is known about the genetics of the Javan rhino than is known about its mating patterns.