Passage Summary: Fossilized tracks show a predator following a prey's every move; since modern hunters do this right before they pounce, scientists think this was a hunt caught in stone.

Conclusion: The predatory dinosaur was in the process of chasing the grazing dinosaur and likely attacked it immediately after the tracks were made.

Reasoning: The tracks show the predator matched the prey's turns and stride, a behavior seen in modern predators like lions just before they strike.

Analysis: The statement in question—that the predator followed and matched the stride—is an intermediate conclusion. It is a claim derived from the primary evidence (the 'tandem' turns in the tracks) which then serves as a premise for the final conclusion about the attack. When identifying roles, it is helpful to see this as a middle link in a chain of reasoning.