GWD-13-Q34

A small number of the forest

            species of lepidoptera (moths and

            butterflies, which exist as caterpillars

Line     during most of their life cycle) exhibit

  (5)      regularly recurring patterns of popu-

lation growth and decline—such

fluctuations in population are known

as population cycles.  Although many

different variables influence popula-

(10)     tion levels, a regular pattern such as

a population cycle seems to imply a

dominant, driving force.  Identification

of that driving force, however, has

proved surprisingly elusive despite

(15)     considerable research.  The com-

mon approach of studying causes of

population cycles by measuring the

mortality caused by different agents,

such as predatory birds or parasites,

(20)     has been unproductive in the case of

            lepidoptera.  Moreover, population

            ecologists’ attempts to alter cycles

by changing the caterpillars’ habitat

and by reducing caterpillar popula-

(25)     tions have not succeeded.  In short,

the evidence implies that these insect

populations, if not self-regulating, may

at least be regulated by an agent more

intimately connected with the insect than

(30)     are predatory birds or parasites.

      Recent work suggests that this

agent may be a virus.  For many

            years, viral disease had been

reported in declining populations

(35)    of caterpillars, but population ecolo-

gists had usually considered viral

disease to have contributed to the

decline once it was underway rather

than to have initiated it.  The recent

(40)    work has been made possible by

new techniques of molecular biology

that allow viral DNA to be detected

at low concentrations in the environ-

ment.  Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses

(45)     are hypothesized to be the driving

force behind population cycles in

lepidoptera in part because the

viruses themselves follow an infec-

tious cycle in which, if protected from

(50)     direct sun light, they may remain

virulent for many years in the envi-

ronment, embedded in durable

crystals of polyhedrin protein.

Once ingested by a caterpillar,

(55)     the crystals dissolve, releasing

the virus to infect the insect’s cells.

Late in the course of the infection,

millions of new virus particles are

formed and enclosed in polyhedrin

(60)     crystals.  These crystals reenter the

environment after the insect dies and

decomposes, thus becoming avail-

able to infect other caterpillars.

      One of the attractions of this

(65)     hypothesis is its broad applicability.

Remarkably, despite significant differ-

ences in habitat and behavior, many

species of lepidoptera have population

cycles of similar length, between eight

(70)     and eleven years.  Nuclear polyhe-

drosis viral infection is one factor these

disparate species share.

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Q34:

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the author’s conclusion in lines 25-30?

A.   New research reveals that the number of species of birds and parasites that prey on lepidoptera has dropped significantly in recent years.

B.    New experiments in which the habitats of lepidoptera are altered in previously untried ways result in the shortening of lepidoptera population cycles.

C.   Recent experiments have revealed that the nuclear polyhedrosis virus is present in a number of predators and parasites of lepidoptera.

D.   Differences among the habitats of lepidoptera species make it difficult to assess the effects of weather on lepidoptera population cycles.

E.    Viral disease is typically observed in a large proportion of the lepidoptera population.

马上快考试了，求助~~~

查了下讨论贴，这个问题讨论的不多，我还是不明白，请问为什么不选A？B weaken的是lines 25-30前面那句话啊？位置都不对了~~~怎么定位的啊？谢谢指教~

我选C

大概是这样：

对in short的部分weaken，前面的moreover部分是前提，B等于否认前提吧

C