Marine biologists have long thought that variation in the shell color

Marine biologists have long thought that variation in the shell color of aquatic snails evolved as a protective camouflage against birds and other predators. Brown shells seem to be more frequent when the underlying seafloor is dark-colored and white shells more frequent when the underlying seafloor is light-colored. A new theory has been advanced, however, that claims that shell color is related to physiological stress associated with heat absorption. According to this theory, brown shells will be more prevalent in areas where the wave action of the sea is great and thus heat absorption from the Sun is minimized, whereas white shells will be more numerous in calmer waters where the snails will absorb more heat from the Sun’s rays.

Evidence that would strongly favor the new theory over the traditional theory would be the discovery of a large majority of
Type- strengthen
Pre-thinking- 1. dark-colored shells on a light-colored seafloor with great wave action
2. light-colored shells on a dark seafloor with less wave action

(A) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators- incorrect, strengthens the old theory(camouflage)

(B) dark-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom- incorrect, weakens the new theory since we have dark-shelled snails in a calm waters

(C) light-shelled snails in an inlet with much wave action and a dark, rocky bottom- incorrect, weakens the new theory since we have light-shelled snails in water with much wave action

(D) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a dark, rocky bottom and many predators- Correct

(E) light-shelled snails in a calm inlet with a white, sandy bottom and many predators- incorrect, strengthens the old theory(camouflage)

Answer D