Sentence Completion

Share on Facebook

jeff_999

#98303 Wed, 11 May 05 01:31 PM

"Most plant species exhibit ____ in their geographical distribution: often, a given species is found over a large geographical area, but individual populations within that range are widely ____.
A. discontinuity seperated
B. density ... dispersed
C. symmetry ... observed
D. uniformity ... scattered
E. concerntration ... adaptable"

The answer is A. But I don’t see any clue that implies “discontinuity” is correct.
I don’t think “a given species is found over a large geographical area” means “most plant species exhibit discontinuity in their geographical distribution”.
:-s

jeff_999

Joined on Wed, Oct 20 2004

Xiamen

Regular Member (810)

Mister Micawber

#98313 Wed, 11 May 05 01:42 PM

Perhaps a bit of knowledge about the nature of Nature is required here, Jeff. In the first clause, none of 'density', 'symmetry' and 'concentration' makes sense as a parameter of geographical distribution without further modification or specification.

As for D: 'uniformity' is a possible parameter, but then 'scattered' does not work in the second blank because 'scattered' populations are the opposite of 'uniform' distribution./

That leaves A, and logic will tell you that 'discontinuity' implies 'separated' populations.