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29 Apr 2021, 20:30
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Must be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Ability to run Cannot be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Tree climbing
of Edruciraptor: Ability to run Cannot be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Tree climbing
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
63% (02:46) correct
38%
(02:53)
wrong
based on 1224
sessions
History
Date
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Result
Not Attempted Yet
The following excerpt from a fictitious popular science journal discusses the discovery of fossil remains of a fictitious animal genus called Edruciraptor.
Paleontologists have made an exciting find on the coast of the Baltic Sea. A nearly complete skeleton of what appears to be a previously unknown miniature theropod dinosaur has been excavated and subjected to rigorous analysis. Like other theropods, the newly discovered genus, for which the name Edruciraptor has been proposed, was bipedal and lacked the ability to pronate its forelimbs. Like the dromaeosaur, Edruciraptor displayed highly inflexible fingers but good wrist mobility. However, while the dromaeosaur walked on only two of its three hind toes, reserving the third for brandishing an imposing curved claw (essential for tree climbing), Edruciraptor walked on all three toes and lacked the characteristic dromaeosaur sickle claw. The limited fossil evidence also indicates that Edruciraptor had feathers, a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run), and possibly an omnivorous diet.
Based on what can be inferred about Edruciraptor as described in the previous paragraph, which of the following must be a characteristic of this fictitious dinosaur, and which cannot be a characteristic? Make only two selections, one in each column.
Paleontologists have made an exciting find on the coast of the Baltic Sea. A nearly complete skeleton of what appears to be a previously unknown miniature theropod dinosaur has been excavated and subjected to rigorous analysis. Like other theropods, the newly discovered genus, for which the name Edruciraptor has been proposed, was bipedal and lacked the ability to pronate its forelimbs. Like the dromaeosaur, Edruciraptor displayed highly inflexible fingers but good wrist mobility. However, while the dromaeosaur walked on only two of its three hind toes, reserving the third for brandishing an imposing curved claw (essential for tree climbing), Edruciraptor walked on all three toes and lacked the characteristic dromaeosaur sickle claw. The limited fossil evidence also indicates that Edruciraptor had feathers, a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run), and possibly an omnivorous diet.
Based on what can be inferred about Edruciraptor as described in the previous paragraph, which of the following must be a characteristic of this fictitious dinosaur, and which cannot be a characteristic? Make only two selections, one in each column.
|
Must be a characteristic of Edruciraptor |
Cannot be a characteristic of Edruciraptor |
|
| Tree climbing | ||
| Omnivorous diet | ||
| Ability to fly | ||
| Ability to run | ||
| Ability to swim | ||
| Shoulder flexibility |
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
Must be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Ability to run Cannot be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Tree climbing
of Edruciraptor: Ability to run Cannot be a characteristic
of Edruciraptor: Tree climbing
01 Dec 2021, 01:32
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Must be a characteristic of Edruciraptor
Omnivorous diet
Ability to run
Cannot be a characteristic of Edruciraptor
Tree climbing
Shoulder flexibility
Explanations below:
Last Sentence : The limited fossil evidence also indicates that Edruciraptor had feathers, a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run), and possibly an omnivorous diet.
From the last sentence, we can infer that the Edruciraptor
a) had a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run)
b) and possibly an omnivorous diet.
From the 3rd sentence - 'lacked the ability to pronate its forelimbs.' - We can understand that the animal lacked Shoulder flexibility
From this sentence - We can infer that WHILE the dromaeosaur could climb trees, the Edruciraptor COUD NOT.
However, while the dromaeosaur walked on only two of its three hind toes, reserving the third for brandishing an imposing curved claw (essential for tree climbing), Edruciraptor walked on all three toes and lacked the characteristic dromaeosaur sickle claw.
Omnivorous diet
Ability to run
Cannot be a characteristic of Edruciraptor
Tree climbing
Shoulder flexibility
Explanations below:
Last Sentence : The limited fossil evidence also indicates that Edruciraptor had feathers, a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run), and possibly an omnivorous diet.
From the last sentence, we can infer that the Edruciraptor
a) had a rapid gait (all small theropod dinosaurs could run)
b) and possibly an omnivorous diet.
From the 3rd sentence - 'lacked the ability to pronate its forelimbs.' - We can understand that the animal lacked Shoulder flexibility
From this sentence - We can infer that WHILE the dromaeosaur could climb trees, the Edruciraptor COUD NOT.
However, while the dromaeosaur walked on only two of its three hind toes, reserving the third for brandishing an imposing curved claw (essential for tree climbing), Edruciraptor walked on all three toes and lacked the characteristic dromaeosaur sickle claw.
03 Jul 2025, 13:58
Kudos
Bookmarks
Based on the paragraph’s descriptions of the newly discovered theropod Edruciraptor, select one feature that must characterize this dinosaur and one feature that cannot characterize it.
1. Extracted Facts from the Passage
2. Determining the “Must Be” Characteristic
3. Determining the “Cannot Be” Characteristic
4. Final Answer Mapping
This matches the correct selections: Ability to run (must be) and Tree climbing (cannot be).
1. Extracted Facts from the Passage
- Locomotion
- “Edruciraptor ... was bipedal.”
- “All small theropod dinosaurs could run,” and the text notes its rapid gait.
- Forelimbs & Hands
- It “lacked the ability to pronate its forelimbs.”
- It had highly inflexible fingers but good wrist mobility.
- Hind Feet & Claws
- Unlike dromaeosaurs, which walk on two of their three hind toes and reserve a curved sickle claw on the second toe, Edruciraptor:
- “Walked on all three toes.”
- “Lacked the characteristic dromaeosaur sickle claw.”
- Unlike dromaeosaurs, which walk on two of their three hind toes and reserve a curved sickle claw on the second toe, Edruciraptor:
- Soft-Tissue Inference
- “Limited fossil evidence ... indicates that Edruciraptor had feathers.”
- Diet
- Possibly omnivorous (phrase: “possibly an omnivorous diet”).
2. Determining the “Must Be” Characteristic
- Ability to run
- Why it’s certain: The passage explicitly generalizes that “all small theropod dinosaurs could run” and emphasizes that Edruciraptor had a rapid gait. There is no qualifying language here—running ability is presented as a shared, definite trait.
3. Determining the “Cannot Be” Characteristic
- Tree climbing
- Why it’s impossible: Tree-climbing in related dinosaurs relies on a raised “kill” claw plus specialized grasping forelimbs. Edruciraptor has neither:
- It lacks the second-toe sickle claw.
- Its forelimbs are inflexible (no pronation, stiff fingers).
- Consequently, it could not have engaged in the claw-and-grasp motions needed for climbing.
- Why it’s impossible: Tree-climbing in related dinosaurs relies on a raised “kill” claw plus specialized grasping forelimbs. Edruciraptor has neither:
4. Final Answer Mapping
| Column | Choice | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Must be a characteristic | Ability to run | “All small theropods could run,” and Edruciraptor had a rapid gait. |
| Cannot be a characteristic | Tree climbing | Lacks both the sickle claw and flexible, grasping forelimbs needed to climb. |
This matches the correct selections: Ability to run (must be) and Tree climbing (cannot be).
