Question

Recently developed tourism infrastructure, including ten-story hotels and neon-lit discos, is obscuring the moonlight, disorienting the female turtles as they seek out beaches to lay their eggs. Often the confusion leads them to assume that the hotel pools are the sea and they end up laying their eggs in the pool flowerbeds. Once the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are unable to find their way to the sea and die. The stringent building regulations that protected the turtles in the past are being flouted openly by organized criminals who either bribe or terrorize officials into turning a blind eye.
Which of the following can be inferred from the above passage?

• A. Scarcity of turtles results in ecological imbalance of sea.
• B. Chemicals in pool water are not safe for turtles.
• C. Moonlight is the only source of light for turtles.
• D. Turtles are guided by moonlight.
• E. Organized gangs are ignoring building restrictions.

Hint:

A valid inference must be based solely on the text provided. Avoid making assumptions or using outside knowledge. Differentiate between a direct restatement and a logical deduction. A good inference is a logical deduction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is an inference question. We need to find a conclusion that is not explicitly stated but is strongly supported by the information given in the passage.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The passage states that artificial lights from tourism infrastructure are "obscuring the moonlight, disorienting the female turtles."
Let's break down the logic:
- Cause: The moonlight is obscured.
- Effect: The turtles become disoriented.
This logical connection allows us to infer that moonlight plays a crucial role in the turtles' orientation or navigation. If the absence of moonlight causes disorientation, then its presence must be what guides them.
Let's analyze the options:
(A) The passage explains why turtles might become scarce, but it never mentions the consequences, such as an "ecological imbalance." This goes beyond the information provided.
(B) The passage mentions turtles laying eggs in "pool flowerbeds," but it says the hatchlings die because they can't find the sea, not because of chemicals in the pool water.
(C) The passage implies moonlight is an important source of light for turtle navigation, but it doesn't state it is the *only* source. Using absolute words like "only" makes a statement very strong and often incorrect in inference questions.
(D) This is a direct and logical inference from the statement that obscuring moonlight causes disorientation. If taking away moonlight confuses them, they must use it for guidance.
(E) The passage explicitly states that regulations "are being flouted openly by organized criminals." "Ignoring" is synonymous with "flouting." This is a restatement of a fact from the passage, not an inference. An inference requires a logical step beyond what is directly written.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The most logical conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence presented is that turtles use moonlight for guidance.