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    Question

    Leopards are facing a severe threat of extinction as

    their natural forest ranges have been fragmented by urban development. Nonetheless, reintroducing leopards into mountain regions where they were previously exterminated by livestock farmers would not be a good idea, as taking steps to bring back these predators to areas where they will only face lethal human hostility is immoral. The argument above would be most significantly weakened if which of the following were true?
    A The mountain regions contain a high density of natural prey that leopards prefer over domestic livestock. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B New state-funded compensation programs and secure fencing initiatives have successfully eliminated the hostility of livestock farmers toward leopards. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Environmentalists have long argued that fragmentation is a greater threat to leopards than hunting. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Some mountain regions are currently being converted into national parks for tourism. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E Historical records show that leopards were once the apex predators in these mountain regions before the 20th century. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    As per the argument, it is not advisable to take steps for reestablishing leopards in places where previously they have been hunted out of existence as it would make them subject to human hostility. This argument can be weakened if it can be proved that the current situation in the concerned areas is different from what it was in the past. And thus, rehabilitating leopards in these areas would not be followed by their extinction like before. Option (b) says that new compensation programs and fencing initiatives have successfully eliminated human hostility. Thus, option (b) is the right answer.

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