Wolves generally avoid human settlements.For this reason, domestic sheep, though essentially easy prey for wolves, are not usually attacked by them.In Hylantia prior to 1910, farmers nevertheless lost considerable numbers of sheep to wolves each year.Attributing this to the large number for wolves, in 1910 the government began offering rewards to hunters for killing wolves.From 1910 to 1915, large numbers of wolves were killed.Yet wolf attacks on sheep increased significantly.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase in wolf attacks on sheep? A.Populations of deer and other wild animals that wolves typically prey on increased significantly in numbers from 1910 to 1915.
B.Prior to 1910, there were no legal restrictions in Hylantia on the hunting of wolves.
C.After 1910 hunters shot and wounded a substantial number of wolves, thereby greatly diminishing these wolves’ ability to prey on wild animals.
D.Domestic sheep are significantly less able than most wild animals to defend themselves against wolf attacks.
E.The systematic hunting of wolves encouraged by the program drove many wolves in Hylantia to migrate to remote mountain areas uninhabited by humans.
C选项：捕杀狼的行动让很多狼受了伤，失去了追捕野生羊的能力，所以只有攻击家羊了，解释了结果，正确。作者: sdcar2010 时间: 2012-3-29 11:22
This is a paradox question. Several facts are stated in the passage, some of which seem to contradict each other.
Your job is to find an explanation to satisfy all the facts stated in the passage.
In this case, two seemingly contradicting facts are: 1) Wolfs ate sheep. To reduce the number of sheep eaten by the wolf, hunters killed wolfs. 2) However, more sheep were eaten by the wolf after many wolves were killed.
The logic is that if more wolves were killed/wounded, fewer sheep would have been eaten.
C) says when many wolves were killed, the surviving wolves could not hunt wild animals. What would they do, the would prey on the domestic animals such as sheep. Therefore, C) offers a good explanation that explains the fact 2) above.
E) on the other hand, cannot explain fact 2). If the wolves migrated to the mountains, who ate all the sheep???作者: xn8510 时间: 2012-3-29 11:48
明白了！！！非常感谢二位大牛的解答！！！