Wild cheetahs live in the African grasslands. Previous estimates of the size that the wild cheetah population must be, in order
for these animals to survive a natural disaster in the African grasslands region were too small, and the current population barely meets the previous estimates. At present, however, there are not enough African grasslands to support a wild cheetah population larger than the current population. The statements above, if true, most strongly support which of the following conclusions? (A) Previous estimates of the size of the existing wild cheetah population were inaccurate.
(B) The cheetah’s natural habitat is decreasing in size at a faster rate than is the size of the wild cheetah population.
(C) The principal threat to the endangered wild cheetah population is neither pollution nor hunting, but a natural disaster.
(D) In the short term, the wild cheetah population will be incapable of surviving a natural disaster in the African grasslands.
(E) In regions where land is suitable for cheetah habitation, more natural disasters are expected to occur during the next decade than occurred during the past decade.
Answer: (D) In the short term, the wild cheetah population will be incapable of surviving a natural disaster in the African grasslands.
Explanation:
It is said that the previous estimates of the population of cheetahs needed for them to survive a natural disaster were understated and yet on top of that, the current population barely meets those understated numbers. Their numbers are therefore not enough to survive a natural disaster as it is.
To top that all of, the population cannot increase in the short term because African grasslands cannot support a larger population. This means that should a natural disaster strike Cheetahs in the short term, their numbers would be unable to take it and they would not survive.
