Hi Relona! Happy to help with this
To see why answer choice (D) is correct and answer choice (C) is incorrect, let's take a careful look at the conclusion of the argument. The author of the stimulus is arguing that the opinion of a certain group of scientists is incorrect because it ignores some important facts. However, we need to be careful about what view the author is opposing, which is that the relationship between mice and humans has
decreased mice's abiliity to survive in nature.
Since this is a Strengthen question, we want to find the answer choice that gives the most support to the author's reasoning.
The issue with answer choice (C) is that it doesn't help challenge the opposing scientists' view that mice's survival ability has decreased over time. Answer choice (C) provides us with evidence that mice were able to survive before humans were in a certain environment. However, we need evidence that mice have not become
less able to survive once they co-existed with humans. This evidence doesn't strengthen the author's argument that mice are still just as able to survive following their co-existence with humans, so it is incorrect.
Answer choice (D), by contrast, tells us about something that mice have done since the existence of humans, which is that they have colonized an island near Antarctica that is inhabitable for humans. This supports the author's argument that mice can still adapt to habitats that are too extreme for human life, meaning that this answer choice is correct.
To sum up, the key to this question is very carefully identifying the view that the author of the stimulus is arguing against. Because of this nuance, answer choice (D) is correct and answer choice (C) is incorrect. Answer choice (D) explains something that has happened since mice and humans have co-existed, whereas answer choice (C) does not.
I hope this helps, and let me know if you have any other questions!
