When a Caterpillar Emerges from the Egg on a Tree Branch, it Immediately Climbs Upward Until it Finds a Leaf Bud to Eat.

Question: When a caterpillar emerges from the egg on a tree branch, it immediately climbs upward until it finds a leaf bud to eat. Biologists thought that this behavior displayed an innate tendency to move in the direction opposite to the pull of gravity. In a recent experiment, a strong light source was placed at the bottom of a tree, and caterpillars, after hatching, climbed downward.

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by the statements given?

1. Caterpillars have an innate tendency to move in the direction of gravity.
2. Newly hatched caterpillars are unable to see in the dark.
3. Newly hatched caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment.
4. Newly hatched caterpillars move toward the leaf bud nearest to them.
5. The eyes of newly hatched caterpillars become less sensitive to light over time.

“When a caterpillar emerges from the egg on a tree branch, it immediately climbs upward until it finds a leaf bud to eat.” – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review’. In this particular topic, candidates need to choose the option that best suits the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: C
Explanation:

This is an inference type of question. The best way to resolve these types of question is to start by reading the question statement. This lets us know what task we have to accomplish with the stimulus text. We should not read the next line or the next section of the text until we know what our task is.

Once we have read and understood the task, we will have a hypothesis in mind.

Hypothesis : newborn caterpillars move towards light.

(A) Caterpillars have an innate tendency to move in the direction of gravity.
Incorrect.
This statement says that caterpillars have a tendency to move towards strong light. However, the passage talks about new born caterpillars. Hence, we can discard this option.

(B) Newly hatched caterpillars are unable to see in the dark.
Incorrect.
There is no information at all in the text about whether caterpillars can see in the dark. It says that caterpillars move towards light. We cannot draw the conclusion that they cannot see in the dark. Hence, we can discard B.

(C) Newly hatched caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment.
Correct.
This option states that newly born caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment. The inference that we can draw from the passage also states the same. Since both are similar, C is the correct option.

(D) Newly hatched caterpillars move toward the leaf bud nearest to them.
Incorrect.
This option says that caterpillars move upward searching for a bud to eat, even if there is a bud conveniently to the left or right. However, as per the passage they move towards light. This is out of scope and we will hence, eliminate D.

(E) The eyes of newly hatched caterpillars become less sensitive to light over time.
Incorrect.
We do not get any information about the eyes of caterpillars or how sensitive they are to light over time. Since this information is not present and cannot be inferred from the passage, we can consider E as incorrect. .

Hence, C is the correct answer.

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