Question
Which of the following claims best explains the data?
A.
When the tick population increases, the ticks cause the chipmunk population to decrease, and this causes the oak trees to stop producing acorns.
B.
When the chipmunk population decreases, the ticks begin to eat acorns, which increases the tick population and decreases the number of acorns.
C.
When a lot of acorns are on the ground in a certain year, it is likely that there will be large populations of chipmunks and ticks in that year.
D.
A shortage of food for chipmunks in a certain year decreases the chipmunk population in the next year and the tick population in the year after that.
A.
When the tick population increases, the ticks cause the chipmunk population to decrease, and this causes the oak trees to stop producing acorns.
B.
When the chipmunk population decreases, the ticks begin to eat acorns, which increases the tick population and decreases the number of acorns.
C.
When a lot of acorns are on the ground in a certain year, it is likely that there will be large populations of chipmunks and ticks in that year.
D.
A shortage of food for chipmunks in a certain year decreases the chipmunk population in the next year and the tick population in the year after that.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To determine which claim best explains the data, we need to consider causality and the relationships between the populations described in the options. Let's evaluate each claim:
A. This option suggests a chain of causation: an increase in ticks leads to a decrease in chipmunks, which in turn causes oak trees to stop producing acorns. This claim introduces multiple links and implies that the health of oak trees is dependent on the chipmunk population influenced by ticks, which is quite complex.
B. This option posits that a decrease in chipmunks leads to ticks eating acorns, which is a rather unconventional assertion. Ticks generally do not consume acorns; instead, they feed on hosts like chipmunks.
C. This option indicates a correlation: when many acorns are available, there are likely to be large populations of chipmunks and ticks in the same year. This explanation focuses on simultaneous population growth without establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
D. This option suggests a temporal relationship: a shortage of food (acorns) leads to a decrease in chipmunks in the following year, and this subsequently decreases the tick population in the year after that. This makes logical sense and suggests a direct cause-and-effect chain.
Based on this analysis, **D** is the claim that best explains the data. It provides a clear cause-and-effect relationship over time, linking food availability to population changes in a logical manner.
A. This option suggests a chain of causation: an increase in ticks leads to a decrease in chipmunks, which in turn causes oak trees to stop producing acorns. This claim introduces multiple links and implies that the health of oak trees is dependent on the chipmunk population influenced by ticks, which is quite complex.
B. This option posits that a decrease in chipmunks leads to ticks eating acorns, which is a rather unconventional assertion. Ticks generally do not consume acorns; instead, they feed on hosts like chipmunks.
C. This option indicates a correlation: when many acorns are available, there are likely to be large populations of chipmunks and ticks in the same year. This explanation focuses on simultaneous population growth without establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
D. This option suggests a temporal relationship: a shortage of food (acorns) leads to a decrease in chipmunks in the following year, and this subsequently decreases the tick population in the year after that. This makes logical sense and suggests a direct cause-and-effect chain.
Based on this analysis, **D** is the claim that best explains the data. It provides a clear cause-and-effect relationship over time, linking food availability to population changes in a logical manner.