Green2k1 I don't have the OE of this passage, but here is how I have approached this question.
This is an
EXCEPT question so we have to find something we are definitely not sure about.
A. The self-application of snake scentThis is explicitly mentioned in the passage a couple of times, in the lines:
and approach the rattlesnake in an effort to acquire useful information regarding size and body temperature.The sound of a particular snake's rattle "leaks" information about the snake's size and body temperature.B. Acquisition of knowledge regarding a rattlesnake's sizeThis is also clearly mentioned in the passage.
E. Communication with other adult ground squirrelsThis is mentioned in the
last paragraph of the passage.
Now compare
C and
D. See on what we are sure about and on what we are not. We might have to choose a better option among these two and that must not be necessarily the best one.
Read the following lines in the passage:the ground squirrel can only safely assess predators from whom there is little to no immediate threat.These lines states that squirrel goes near to only those predators from whom they have little or no
immediate threat and they are rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnakes, on the other hand, pose relatively little immediate danger, and give the squirrel the greatest opportunity for predator assessment.These lines also suggest the same.
Rattlesnakes hunt slowly and stalk their prey,Another example which shows there is comparatively high chances squirrel will go for predator assessment.
And even though a rattlesnake's strike is fast, the ground squirrel can move much faster.These lines once again shows that Rattlesnakes are lighter enemy comparatively.
any danger posed by a snakebite is mitigated by proteins in the squirrel's blood that confer resistance to rattlesnake venom.Adult ground squirrels will generally survive a rattlesnake biteThis innate resistance allows the ground squirrel to change the dynamic of the traditional predator-prey relationshipthe ground squirrel will engage in tail-flagging, sand-kicking, and substrate-throwing in an attempt to put the snake on the defensiveConclusively all these lines suggests that squirrel can go near the rattlesnake and can do a predator assessment, during the predator assessment if squirrel is caught by a rattlesnake they might bite the rattlesnake in their self-defense. We are not sure by the passage that whether they can actually bite but by reading all above lines we could be doubtful on this phenomenon. This is something we are doubtful or we are not sure about. Lets read option
DD. Large-scale assessment of avian predatorswhen avian predators, including the red-tailed hawk and golden eagle, launch sudden, unexpected aerial attacks, self-preservation must take precedence over the acquisition of knowledge.sudden avian attacksAccording to the above lines we are sure that squirrel will not go, in any case, close to the avian predator, and when self-preservation will be on their first preference squirrel will not go for large-scale assessment of avian predators.
So
D is better because we are sure that squirrel will
NOT go for this option and although
C is not clearly mentioned but by the overall text of the passage we could be doubtful on that. So finally we have to choose which is better and not which is best. I hope I have conveyed my point.
Thanks
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