Q19

[hyewonkim89]

Is (A) wrong because it's too narrow?

[rinagoldfield]

Thanks for your post!

You’re right that answer choice (A) is narrow. It doesn’t get at the author’s main point, which is that "even death-causing pathogens can achieve evolutionary success."

But answer choice (A) is also extreme.

This answer choice’s claim that "directly transmitted pathogens are just as virulent as vector-borne pathogens" is incorrect. The common cold is a "directly transmitted pathogen," but it is LESS virulent than vector-borne pathogens (lines 29, 38-40).

In fact, "vector-borne pathogens tend to be more virulent than directly transmitted pathogens" (lines 45-46).

Only a few directly transmitted pathogens match the virulence of vector-borne ones, such as TB and diphtheria (lines 49-50).

So while SOME directly transmitted pathogens are just as virulent as vector-borne ones, the passage doesn’t support the inference that they are in general.

(B) is extreme. MOST?
(C) is way too narrow.
(D) is contradicted. This describes the "prevailing view," not the new hypothesis.

(E) is supported by lines 19-22, 44-46, and 51-54.

Hope that helps!