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805+ Level|   Science|   Short Passage|      
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 29 May 2020, 04:55
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VeritasKarishma
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or simply Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and Eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognized, which mainly differ in the coloration of the plumage on the head and nape. Carl Linnaeus first classified the bird and described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s supposed fondness for picking up coins (monedula is Latin for money). Later analysis of its DNA suggests that, with its closest relative, the Darian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus. In fact, one authority, the International Ornithological Congress, has recently reassigned the two jackdaw species from the genus Corvus to the genus Coloeus.

Unlike many of its close relatives, the Western Jackdaw has a completely black-plumage with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. However, like those relatives, it is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western Jackdaws are monogamous (have only one mate at a time) and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. About five pale blue or blue-green eggs with brown speckles are laid and incubated by the female. The young fledge (leave the nest) in four to five weeks, sooner than other jackdaws, and the average lifespan of the bird is approximately five years compared.


Q4: Which of the following can properly be inferred about Carl Linnaeus from the passage above?

(A) He was the first to discover the Western Jackdaw.
(B) He believed that the Western Jackdaw was fond of coins.
(C) His classification of the Western Jackdaw was wrong.
(D) His prior classifications do not always agree with current DNA data.
(E) He was a member of the International Ornithological Congress.
Show SpoilerOA
D


Dear Experts:
mikemcgarry IanStewart VeritasKarishma daagh EMPOWERgmatVerbal EMPOWERgmatRichC AjiteshArun nightblade354 walker DmitryFarber

In this question, option D means "prior classification". How can we be sure that the classifications point to the "bird classification" or some other classifications?
may be he classified some "fish" before he classified this bird. How do we know if the question is specifically referring to the "bird classification only"?

Doesn't matter how many distinct classifications he did. Prior classification means all prior classifications.
We see an example of one of his prior classification which does not agree with current DNA - Western Jackdaw from Corvus to Coloeus.

So we can infer that his prior classifications do not ALWAYS agree with current DNA data. They do not always agree, they may in some cases, may not in others. We have an example in which it doesn't so we can say that they don't agree always. Sometimes they may, sometimes they may not.

Dear VeritasKarishma
Thank you for the explanation!
I agree that if one classification is incorrect, we can say that all classifications do not ALWAYS agree with correct DNA data. However, it seems I did not correctly articulate my doubt.
My doubt is more about use of the word "prior".
Prior means " a previous". Hence, doesn't this question focus on the classifications he did before the "Jackdaw bird" classification?
We do not have any information about "prior classification".
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Note what the passage says:
Carl Linnaeus first classified the bird and described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s supposed fondness for picking up coins (monedula is Latin for money). Later analysis of its DNA suggests that, with its closest relative, the Darian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus.

When Carl Linnaeus first classified it, he put it in genus Corvus.
Later analysis of its DNA suggests that it belongs to genus Coloeus.

So his prior classification does not agree with current DNA data.
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 02 Jun 2020, 19:40
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In question 4, I'm confused between answer B and D.
The passage clearly states that the bird's fondness for the coin was 'supposed' hence B should be correct. D may or may not be correct
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 23 Jul 2021, 22:38
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Hi ,

Can someone help me in clearing doubt in question 3.

I was confused between Option B and Option D.

First passage states that the bird was move from Corvus to the genus Coloeus. (makes option B correct)

Second passage states that bird leaves nest earlier ,compared to relatives . (Makes option D correct assuming leaving nest is equivalent to started flying)


Thanks!
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but option d says WJ start flying sooner but it didn't tell they were newborns. ....From option D- they may be adult or newborn
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 09 Oct 2021, 10:19
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Quote:
Q3: Which of the following can be properly inferred from the passage above?

(A) The Western Jackdaw eats more plant material and invertebrates than human food waste.
(B) The Western Jackdaw belongs to the genus Coloeus.
(C) The Western Jackdaw has only one mate throughout its lifespan.
(D) The Western Jackdaw is able to fly sooner than its close relatives.
(E) The Western Jackdaw is more social than its close relatives.

In option D "The Western Jackdaw is able to fly sooner than its close relatives.".
The below line doesn't suggest western jackdaw was able to fly sooner than its relatives.

"The young fledge (leave the nest) in four to five weeks, sooner than other jackdaws".
There can be the case young fledge know how to fly but they didn't left the nest.
Thus we can't infer option D from the passage.

VeritasKarishma VeritasPrepBrandon VeritasPrepBrian VeritasPrepHailey
Kindly explain

Note that option (D) says "... is ABLE to fly ..."
So it has the capability to fly. Whether every Jackdaw flies early or not doesn't matter. It has the capability as per our passage.
Our passage anyway suggests that the young of western jackdaw leave the nest sooner than other jackdaws so our passage tells us that generally speaking, they do leave the nest early. Look, it doesn't matter if every single jackdaw does not leave the nest early. It is a characteristic of the species. There might be some variations here and there. Option (D) also gives the characteristic of the species.

I think you are confusing it with the other way around - if the passage said "they have the ability to fly sooner" while option (D) said "they fly sooner" then we would wonder whether they actually do fly sooner.

As given in our actual question, option (D) is certainly correct.
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HI VeritasKarishma , no disrespect but this explanation doesn't help with this answer (I think the answer is totally incorrect). There my be a case that its close relative may learn to fly in one week but doesn't leave nest because it can not feed on its own or whatever reason . So we can not infer anything about the flying behavior . There is no correlation shown between ability to fly and leaving the nest .
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 10 Oct 2021, 22:32
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HI VeritasKarishma , no disrespect but this explanation doesn't help with this answer (I think the answer is totally incorrect). There my be a case that its close relative may learn to fly in one week but doesn't leave nest because it can not feed on its own or whatever reason . So we can not infer anything about the flying behavior . There is no correlation shown between ability to fly and leaving the nest .
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Gaurav, birds leave the nest when they learn to fly. When their wings support them, it is their natural instinct to fly. It is expected that the test taker will make the connect.
In any case, there is no point debating whether it is a fair expectation. Our experimental questions analyses inform us in case the expectations are unfair for the majority of test takers.
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 28 Apr 2023, 03:19
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or simply Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and Eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognized, which mainly differ in the coloration of the plumage on the head and nape. Carl Linnaeus first classified the bird and described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s supposed fondness for picking up coins (monedula is Latin for money). Later analysis of its DNA suggests that, with its closest relative, the Darian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus. In fact, one authority, the International Ornithological Congress, has recently reassigned the two jackdaw species from the genus Corvus to the genus Coloeus.

Unlike many of its close relatives, the Western Jackdaw has a completely black-plumage with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. However, like those relatives, it is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western Jackdaws are monogamous (have only one mate at a time) and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. About five pale blue or blue-green eggs with brown speckles are laid and incubated by the female. The young fledge (leave the nest) in four to five weeks, sooner than other jackdaws, and the average lifespan of the bird is approximately five years compared.


Q4: Which of the following can properly be inferred about Carl Linnaeus from the passage above?

(A) He was the first to discover the Western Jackdaw.
(B) He believed that the Western Jackdaw was fond of coins.
(C) His classification of the Western Jackdaw was wrong.
(D) His prior classifications do not always agree with current DNA data.
(E) He was a member of the International Ornithological Congress.
Show SpoilerOA
D


Dear Experts:
mikemcgarry IanStewart VeritasKarishma daagh EMPOWERgmatVerbal EMPOWERgmatRichC AjiteshArun nightblade354 walker DmitryFarber

In this question, option D means "prior classification". How can we be sure that the classifications point to the "bird classification" or some other classifications?
may be he classified some "fish" before he classified this bird. How do we know if the question is specifically referring to the "bird classification only"?

Doesn't matter how many distinct classifications he did. Prior classification means all prior classifications.
We see an example of one of his prior classification which does not agree with current DNA - Western Jackdaw from Corvus to Coloeus.

So we can infer that his prior classifications do not ALWAYS agree with current DNA data. They do not always agree, they may in some cases, may not in others. We have an example in which it doesn't so we can say that they don't agree always. Sometimes they may, sometimes they may not.
Show more

I chose B over D for the following reason:

1) The passage states "giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s SUPPOSED fondness for picking up coins". In my understanding, the word "supposed" means something that is generally believed to be the case, but not necessarily so. Since we do not actually know for a fact whether WJs are fond of coins, I inferred B i.e. Carl Linnaeus MUST HAVE believed WJs were fond of coins and hence named them Corvus monedula.

Can someone please clarify?
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The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian 17 Jun 2024, 10:08
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I also thought in the similar vein. Can KarishmaB / chetan2u help ?
BalajiT

Quote:

Doesn't matter how many distinct classifications he did. Prior classification means all prior classifications.
We see an example of one of his prior classification which does not agree with current DNA - Western Jackdaw from Corvus to Coloeus.

So we can infer that his prior classifications do not ALWAYS agree with current DNA data. They do not always agree, they may in some cases, may not in others. We have an example in which it doesn't so we can say that they don't agree always. Sometimes they may, sometimes they may not.
akhil911

The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or simply Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and Eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognized, which mainly differ in the coloration of the plumage on the head and nape. Carl Linnaeus first classified the bird and described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s supposed fondness for picking up coins (monedula is Latin for money). Later analysis of its DNA suggests that, with its closest relative, the Darian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus. In fact, one authority, the International Ornithological Congress, has recently reassigned the two jackdaw species from the genus Corvus to the genus Coloeus.

Unlike many of its close relatives, the Western Jackdaw has a completely black-plumage with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. However, like those relatives, it is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. An omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, it eats a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates, as well as food waste from urban areas. Western Jackdaws are monogamous (have only one mate at a time) and build simple nests of sticks in cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. About five pale blue or blue-green eggs with brown speckles are laid and incubated by the female. The young fledge (leave the nest) in four to five weeks, sooner than other jackdaws, and the average lifespan of the bird is approximately five years compared.


Q4: Which of the following can properly be inferred about Carl Linnaeus from the passage above?

(A) He was the first to discover the Western Jackdaw.
(B) He believed that the Western Jackdaw was fond of coins.
(C) His classification of the Western Jackdaw was wrong.
(D) His prior classifications do not always agree with current DNA data.
(E) He was a member of the International Ornithological Congress.
Show SpoilerOA
D

Dear Experts:
mikemcgarry IanStewart VeritasKarishma daagh EMPOWERgmatVerbal EMPOWERgmatRichC AjiteshArun nightblade354 walker DmitryFarber

In this question, option D means "prior classification". How can we be sure that the classifications point to the "bird classification" or some other classifications?
may be he classified some "fish" before he classified this bird. How do we know if the question is specifically referring to the "bird classification only"?
I chose B over D for the following reason:

1) The passage states "giving it the name Corvus monedula because of the bird’s SUPPOSED fondness for picking up coins". In my understanding, the word "supposed" means something that is generally believed to be the case, but not necessarily so. Since we do not actually know for a fact whether WJs are fond of coins, I inferred B i.e. Carl Linnaeus MUST HAVE believed WJs were fond of coins and hence named them Corvus monedula.

Can someone please clarify?
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