The examples of protective resemblance so far quoted are mostly perman

Adapted from Volume Four of The Natural History of Animals: The Animal Life of the World in Its Various Aspects and Relations by James Richard Ainsworth Davis (1903)

The examples of protective resemblance so far quoted are mostly permanent adaptations to one particular sort of surrounding. There are, however, numerous animals which possess the power of adjusting their color more or less rapidly so as to harmonize with a changing environment.

Some of the best known of these cases are found among those mammals and birds that inhabit countries more or less covered with snow during a part of the year. A good instance is afforded by the Irish or variable hare, which is chiefly found in Ireland and Scotland. In summer, this looks very much like an ordinary hare, though rather grayer in tint and smaller in size, but in winter it becomes white with the exception of the black tips to the ears. Investigations that have been made on the closely allied American hare seem to show that the phenomenon is due to the growth of new hairs of white hue.

The common stoat is subject to similar color change in the northern parts of its range. In summer it is of a bright reddish brown color with the exception of the under parts, which are yellowish white, and the end of the tail, which is black. But in winter, the entire coat, save only the tip of the tail, becomes white, and in that condition the animal is known as an ermine. A similar example is afforded by the weasel. The seasonal change in the vegetarian Irish hare is purely of protective character, but in such an actively carnivorous creature as a stoat or weasel, it is aggressive as well, rendering the animal inconspicuous to its prey.

1. The tone of this passage is best described as __________.

A. angry
B. considerate
C. judgmental
D. objective
E. optimistic


2. What can we infer preceded this passage?

A. Descriptions of changing environments
B. Descriptions of animals that defend themselves by looking like things in a changing environment
C. Descriptions of animals that defend themselves by looking like things in a stable environment
D. Descriptions of animals that hunt other animals efficiently by camouflaging themselves
E. Descriptions of animals that have not adapted to their environments


3. Based on the passage, what can we infer about the weasel?

A. Like the stoat, it has claws.
B. Like the Irish hare, it has grey fur in the summer.
C. Like the Irish hare, has been the subject of investigations.
D. Like the stoat, it also lives in burrows.
E. Like the stoat, it also changes its coat color.


4. A stoat might also be called __________.

A. an ermine, depending on where it lives
B. a weasel, depending on what it eats
C. a weasel, depending on its fur color
D. a weasel, depending on where it lives
E. an ermine, depending on its fur color


5. The purpose of the passage’s third paragraph is __________.

A. to describe an animal that has adapted to an unchanging environment
B. to describe the appearance of a stoat in summer
C. to provide an example of an animal that goes by two different names depending on its appearance
D. to describe why stoats and weasels have a hard time hunting Irish hares in winter
E. to provide an example color-change in animals that is both aggressive and defensive


6. For what reason does the author describe the Irish hare as “vegetarian” in the underlined sentence? [The seasonal change in the vegetarian Irish hare is purely of protective character, but in such an actively carnivorous creature as a stoat or weasel, it is aggressive as well, rendering the animal inconspicuous to its prey.]

A. To encourage the reader to switch to a vegetarian diet
B. To help readers empathize with the hare
C. To provide information about the hare's diet that the reader may not know
D. To provide insight about what food is available in arctic environments
E. To contrast the hare with the stoat and the weasel


7. In which of the following would you most expect to find this passage reprinted?

A. A scholarly report about weasels
B. An article in a biology magazine
C. A how-to manual
D. A cookbook
E. A physics textbook


8. Based on the passage, which of the following can we infer would be the best reason for animals living in variable arctic environments to change their fur color?

A. They would be warmer.
B. They would more easily be able to attract a mate.
C. They would be more difficult to see when surrounded by snow.
D. They would be able to find food more quickly and easily.
E. They would be faster.


9. Why is the American hare mentioned in the passage?

A. It is a type of hare that does not change color.
B. It is another name for the Scottish hare.
C. It is a predator of the Scottish hare.
D. Scientists have studied it to find out how a hare’s fur changes color.
E. It is better at hiding than the Scottish hare.