WeakenDiff: Easy
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: Scientists think these butterflies fly in a weird, zig-zaggy way specifically to dodge predators, especially since it is a lot of work to fly like that.
Conclusion: The irregular flight pattern of red admiral butterflies is an evolutionary adaptation for evading predators.
Reasoning: The flight style is energy-inefficient, and since these butterflies are not poisonous, they must rely on evasion rather than chemical defense to survive.
Analysis: To strengthen this hypothesis, we need to bolster the link between 'irregular flight' and 'predator evasion.' A great way to do this would be to show that predators actually have a harder time catching butterflies that fly this way compared to those that fly in a straight line. Look for an answer that provides empirical evidence of the flight's effectiveness or shows that the behavior is absent in environments where predators do not exist.
Conclusion: The irregular flight pattern of red admiral butterflies is an evolutionary adaptation for evading predators.
Reasoning: The flight style is energy-inefficient, and since these butterflies are not poisonous, they must rely on evasion rather than chemical defense to survive.
Analysis: To strengthen this hypothesis, we need to bolster the link between 'irregular flight' and 'predator evasion.' A great way to do this would be to show that predators actually have a harder time catching butterflies that fly this way compared to those that fly in a straight line. Look for an answer that provides empirical evidence of the flight's effectiveness or shows that the behavior is absent in environments where predators do not exist.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage9.Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the support for the scientists' hypothesis?
Correct Answer
A
If poisonous species—who don’t need evasive flight because predators avoid them—lack irregular flight, that pattern supports the idea that irregular flight evolved as a predator-avoidance strategy used by nonpoisonous species like the red admiral.
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