In recent years, the deer population in West Dakota has increased more than 200%. The deer are beginning to become a nuisance, and car accidents involving motorists hitting deer have increased more than 100%. Fearing for motorists' safety, the state increased the hunting season for deer, allowing residents with a hunting permit to hunt deer for four months instead of three. Following the prolonged hunting season, the number of car accidents involving deer dropped by 75%, prompting state officials to declare that the deer population had been reduced substantially.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion drawn by the state?
A)Historical data exists to show that recording the amount of deer hit by cars can give a reliable figure for how many deer exist in total in the state.
B)Hunting is a popular activity in the state, and every year thousands of residents obtain deer hunting licenses.
C)The longer hunting season also justified a higher priced hunting license, resulting in increased revenue for the state.
D)Deer have few known predators in the state, allowing their population to grow quickly.
E)Hitting a deer with a car can result in serious injury or death to the driver or passengers in a car, justifying the state's response.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the historical data exists to show that recording the amount of deer hit by cars can give a reliable estimate of how many deer exist in total in the state, then that would support the conclusion drawn by the state. The state asserted that the deer population has declined because the number of car accidents involving deer has declined. In order to make this argument, the state must show that the data on deer-involved car accidents supports its assertions about the larger population of deer.

In Recent Years, the Deer Population in West Dakota Has