Question 132·Hard·Command of Evidence
A science article argues that reintroducing apex predators to an ecosystem can have unexpected economic advantages, not just ecological ones.
Which quotation most effectively supports this claim?
For Command of Evidence questions, restate the claim and underline its key requirement(s). Then choose the quotation that most directly matches those requirements—here, it must show a positive economic benefit and clearly connect that benefit to predator reintroduction (not merely mention money or provide an unrelated cause).
Hints
Match the claim’s key idea
Focus on economic advantages. Look for a quotation that mentions something clearly related to money (like revenue or profits).
Check that it’s an advantage
Be careful: a quotation can mention money but still not show an advantage (for example, it could describe a cost or something staying the same).
Confirm the cause
Make sure the economic benefit is tied to the predators’ return, not to a different explanation (like a highway or unrelated development).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the evidence must show
The claim has three key parts:
- Predator reintroduction (cause)
- An economic result (money, revenue, business)
- A clear advantage (a positive benefit)
The best supporting quotation should connect all three.
Scan choices for economic language and causal connection
Look for economic indicators (for example, revenue, spending, payments, profits) and check whether the quotation ties them to the predators’ return (not to some other factor).
Eliminate economic details that don’t support an advantage from reintroduction
- The option about $2 million in tracking costs is economic, but it describes a cost, not an advantage.
- The option about rancher payments discusses money, but it does not show an economic gain from reintroduction (and it does not indicate improvement).
- The option about more visitors attributes the increase to a new highway, not to the wolves, so it doesn’t support the claim about predator reintroduction.
Select the quotation that directly supports the claim
The quotation about tourist revenue rising by 40 percent within five years of the wolves’ return is a direct, positive economic outcome linked to predator reintroduction.
Correct answer: "Within five years of the wolves' return, tourist revenue in the region had risen by 40 percent, outpacing every other sector save technology."