The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as the mountain lion, puma, pan

2. Which of the following can be properly inferred from the passage?

Difficulty Level: 700

Explanation

For this question, you must go through each choice, find where it is discussed in the passage, and determine if it is a proper inference. For (A), there is no evidence given to support this conclusion. While you learn that cougars have traditionally been found in Florida and have recently moved into Minnesota, there is no way to determine from the passage where more exist.

For (B), you learn in the passage that hunting played a role in the decline of cougar populations, as did human encroachment on cougar habitat. However you have no idea from the passage if hunting has been the PRIMARY cause of the decrease across its ENTIRE habitat. Be careful about such strongly worded language in any inference questions.

(C), like (B), goes too far and is not a reasonable inference. You learn that attacks on humans are rare and have been generally trending upwards, but you have no idea what the case is in Florida and whether attacks there are more likely than several decades ago.

For (D), you learn in the passage that “Its range, from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America, is the greatest of ANY large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.” From this you can infer with certainty that the cougar has a larger range than the grizzly bear or American bison. Of course, the trick in this answer choice is that the American Bison is not discussed in the passage, but it is certainly a wild terrestrial mammal so (D) must be true.

For (E), you learn specifically that the cougar is NOT always the apex predator in its range so you cannot make this inference.

Answer is (D).