Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ticks. Generally, deer ticks pick up the bacterium while in the larval stage by feeding on infected white-footed mice. However, certain other species on which the larvae feed do not harbor the bacterium. If the population of these species increased, more of the larvae would be feeding on uninfected hosts, so the number of ticks acquiring the bacterium would likely decline.

Which of the following, if true, strengthens the argument?

Correct answer marked below

Ticks do not suffer any adverse consequences from carrying the bacterium that causes lyme disease in humans.

There are no known cases of a human's contracting lyme disease through contact with white-footed mice

A deer tick feeds only once while in the larval stage

Correct

A single host animal can be the source of bacteria for many tick larvae.

None of the other species on which deer tick larvae feed harbor other bacteria that ticks transmit to humans.

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What this question tests

Whether you can identify the option that most bolsters an argument's conclusion.

Choosing an option that is consistent with the argument but adds no new support, or that shifts the topic.