Known to be antisocial birds, cuckoos are solitary animals that

Question

Known to be antisocial birds, cuckoos are solitary animals that practice brood parasitism, whereby they plant their young in another bird's nest through deception and subterfuge so that the host bird will take on the burden of raising the cuckoo's offspring. However, the ani species of cuckoo is highly social; anis congregate with others of their kind and often trust humans. Scientists attribute the anis' more social behavior to communal living conditions that do not require antisocial behavior of the birds.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the scientists' explanation of anis' more social behavior?

(A) The degree to which a bird is social or antisocial is species-dependent and therefore primarily genetic.

(B) The more social species of cuckoo nest communally; a number of females lay their eggs in the nest and usually share the responsibility of incubation and feeding.

(C) The majority of cuckoos are monogamous, having only one mate.

(D) In some cuckoo communal living environments, female cuckoos take multiple males as mates.

(E) Cuckoos tend to show flexibility in prey and foraging techniques.

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ribbons · Answer

CDE are out os scope bc mates and hunting isnt discussed

A is a weakener bc scientists attribute it to communal living not genetics

Hence answer is B

captain0612 · Answer

IMO Choice B

Question - Strengthen. We need to find a choice that strengthens scientist's explanation for anes's social behavior.

(A) The degree to which a bird is social or antisocial is species-dependent and therefore primarily genetic.  This sounds more like a weakner as the scientists claim that social behavior can be attributed the living conditions  Incorrect

(B) The more social species of cuckoo nest communally; a number of females lay their eggs in the nest and usually share the responsibility of incubation and feeding.   Correct  This choice further strengthens the scientists explanation, supporting the scientists claim by further explaining it.

(C) The majority of cuckoos are monogamous, having only one mate.  We are only concerned about the anes cuckoo spieces. Furthermore, we do not know how monogamous trait affects social behaviour  Incorrect

(D) In some cuckoo communal living environments, female cuckoos take multiple males as mates.  Reasoning similar to above choice  Incorrect

(E) Cuckoos tend to show flexibility in prey and foraging techniques.  How is this flexibility related to social behaviour? We do not know the answer, hence we can strongly say that this choice does not support scientist's explanation  Incorrect

A_Nishith · Answer

My Choice is Option B.
This choice strengthens the scientists explanation, supporting the scientists claim by further explaining it.

Legenddary1234 · Answer

IMO B

To determine which statement most strongly supports the scientists' explanation of anis' more social behavior, we need to focus on how communal living conditions might influence social behaviors, as the scientists hypothesize.

(A) While this statement suggests that social behavior might have a genetic basis, it doesn't specifically support the idea that communal living conditions lead to more social behavior. It rather implies that being social or antisocial is inherent to the species, not influenced by environmental factors like communal living.

(B) This statement directly supports the scientists' explanation by describing a specific type of communal living—communal nesting and shared responsibilities. This kind of behavior contrasts with the antisocial behavior seen in other cuckoo species that practice brood parasitism and suggests that communal living is conducive to social behavior.

(C) Being monogamous could imply some level of social interaction, but it doesn't directly support the idea that communal living conditions lead to more social behavior. Monogamy can occur in both social and solitary species.

(D) The mating behavior of female cuckoos in communal environments might indicate complex social interactions, but it does not directly support the claim that communal living conditions are what make anis more social. It focuses more on mating strategies rather than broader social behaviors.

(E) Flexibility in prey and foraging techniques might imply adaptability in behavior, but it doesn't connect directly to social behaviors or communal living conditions.

Therefore, option (B) most strongly supports the scientists' explanation by linking communal living directly to shared responsibilities and cooperative behaviors, which are indicative of social interaction.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

Reading the question: the prompt leaves some questions unanswered. Cuckoos usually are antisocial parasites. But ani cuckoos are social--are they parasites? The answer to that question doesn't leap out. Furthermore, there is the question of the "living conditions"--what are they?

Creating the filter: of these questions, the most important, we can conjecture, is what exactly these living conditions are. The parasite business is irrelevant, perhaps, and we are talking about the question of antisocial versus social, which will depend on the living conditions. Clarifying that would add further "support" to the "scientists' explanation." So we can use "living conditions" as a basic relevance filter.

Applying the filter: choice (A) gives us genes, not living conditions, so it doesn't pass the filter. Choice (B) looks relevant--it discusses living conditions and resolves the mystery about whether ani cuckoos are parasites. So (B) stays in. Choice (C) appears to be true of all cuckoos, so it does nothing to explain the difference among them. Choice (C) is out. Ditto for (D) and (E). We're left with (B) only.

Logical proof: when you're reasonably certain on a question or running behind on time, you'll want to skip the logical proof step. Applying the negation test whenever possible on Critical Reasoning questions may be too time-consuming; you can skip it selectively to balance time management and accuracy. However, we can apply the negation test to (B). Say that ani cuckoos did not nest communally. In such a case, they might well be brood parasites, like other cuckoos. And in such a case, their living conditions, so far as we know, would not be communal. The negation of (B) would severely weaken the argument, so (B) strengthens the argument.

The correct answer is (B).

Known to be antisocial birds, cuckoos are solitary animals that

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