Farm animals have certain behavioral tendencies that result from the evolutionary history of these species. By imposing on these animals a type of organization that conflicts with their behavioral tendencies, current farm-management practices cause the animals more pain and distress than do practices that more closely conform to the animals’ behavioral tendencies. Because the animals tend to resist this type of organization, current practices can also be less efficient than those other farm-management practices.
If the statements above are true, which one of the following can be properly inferred from them?
A. Some of the behavorial tendencies of farm animals can be altered by efficient farm management practices
B. In order to implement efficient farm management practices,it is necessary to be familiar with the evolutionary history of farm animals.
C. In order to create farm management practices that cause less pain and distress to farm animals ,a significant loss of efficiency will be required.
D. Farm Management Practices that cause the least amount of pain and distress to farm animals are also the most efficient management practices.
E. Some changes in farm management practices that lessen the pain and distress experienced by farm animals can result in gains in efficiency.
A straightforward inference based question. Let us examine the answer options:
A. Some of the behavorial tendencies of farm animals can be altered by efficient farm management practices We do not know if the behavioral tendencies can be altered or not. The passage seems to suggest the opposite. Eliminate.
B. In order to implement efficient farm management practices, it is necessary to be familiar with the evolutionary history of farm animals. We do not know that the "other" farm management practices are as a result of knowing the evolutionary history of farm animals. Those who implement those may not be aware of such history. Eliminate.
C. In order to create farm management practices that cause less pain and distress to farm animals ,a significant loss of efficiency will be required. The opposite is suggested by the passage. Eliminate.
D. Farm Management Practices that cause the least amount of pain and distress to farm animals are also the most efficient management practices. Here, the problem is with the words "least" and "most". While the passage does suggest that less distress is correlated with more efficiency, we do not know if it holds true at the extremes as well. At this stage, given that the correct relationship is specified, we can hold on to this option.
E. Some changes in farm management practices that lessen the pain and distress experienced by farm animals can result in gains in efficiency. Correct answer - gives the correct relationship between distress and efficiency without being absolute in either direction. Since this option is so much better, we can now eliminate option (D).