Capuchin monkeys often rub their bodies with a certain type of millipede. Laboratory tests show that secretions from the bodies of these millipedes are rich in two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate capuchins. Some scientists hypothesize that the monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes because doing so helps protect them from mosquitoes.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the scientists’ hypothesis?
(A) A single millipede often gets passed around among several capuchins, all of whom rub their bodies with it.
(B) The two chemicals that repel mosquitoes also repel several other varieties of insects.
(C) The capuchins rarely rub their bodies with the millipedes except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak.
(D) Although the capuchins eat several species of insects, they do not eat the type of millipede they use to rub their bodies.
(E) The two insect-repelling chemicals in the secretions of the millipedes are carcinogenic for humans but do not appear to be carcinogenic for capuchins.
Premises-
1) Capuchin monkeys often rub their bodies with a certain type of millipede.
2) secretions from the bodies of these millipedes are rich in two chemicals that are potent mosquito repellents, and mosquitoes carry parasites that debilitate capuchins.
Hypothesis-
monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes because doing so helps protect them from mosquitoes.
We need to find an option that strengthens the scientists’ hypothesis that monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes because doing so helps protect them from mosquitoes.
Option A- A single millipede often gets passed around among several capuchins, all of whom rub their bodies with it.
This has no relevance to the scientists’ hypothesis - Eliminate A
Option B- The two chemicals that repel mosquitoes also repel several other varieties of insects.
So? It doesn’t matter if the two chemicals also repel several other varieties of insects or not; the conclusion talks only about mosquitoes - Eliminate B
Option C- The capuchins rarely rub their bodies with the millipedes except during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at their peak.
It is during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are at the peak, that monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes. This strengthens the scientists’ hypothesis that monkeys rub their bodies with the millipedes to protect them from mosquitoes.This is the correct answer.
Option D- Although the capuchins eat several species of insects, they do not eat the type of millipede they use to rub their bodies.
This has no relevance to the scientists’ hypothesis - Eliminate D
Option E- The two insect-repelling chemicals in the secretions of the millipedes are carcinogenic for humans but do not appear to be carcinogenic for capuchins.
Again, this information is irrelevant to the scientists’ hypothesis- Eliminate E