Since larger body size is often associated with dominance in many anim

Question

Since larger body size is often associated with dominance in many animal species, some researchers believe that bigger males attract more mates. However, a recent study published in Behavioral Ecology challenges this assumption. The research focused on a specific population of desert locusts. Surprisingly, the findings showed that females were more likely to choose males with smaller body sizes, not larger. This seemingly counterintuitive behavior might be linked to the females' preference for males with better camouflage abilities. Smaller males, with a lower profile, could be less conspicuous to predators, potentially increasing the survival chances of their offspring.

The argument in the passage proceeds by

The argument in the passage proceeds by

A. indicating that behavior commonly expected to underlie a phenomenon may be reversed even without essentially implying a reversal in reasons justifying the same.
B. dismissing a claim made about the widespread presence of a uniform behavior across animal species by presenting an evidence of contrary behavior in one such species.
C. establishing the widespread presence of a general behavior among animal species by presenting an evidence in support of that behavior.
D. implying an analogy in behavior of two different species of the animal kingdom to justify the reason for a change in behavior in one species.
E. presenting evidence that a widely observed behavior is more common to one species than the other.

crimson_noise · Answer

Option A captures this precise structure: “behavior commonly expected to underlie a phenomenon may be reversed even without essentially implying a reversal in reasons justifying the same.”
• Behavior reversed: Small body size preferred vs. large body size preferred
• Reason NOT reversed: Both are still about maximizing reproductive fitness/offspring survival
The passage doesn’t dismiss the general pattern (ruling out B), establish widespread behavior (ruling out C), make analogies between species (ruling out D), or compare prevalence across species (ruling out E).
The argument shows an exception where the mechanism changes but the underlying evolutionary logic remains constant.

guddo · Answer

Since larger body size is often associated with dominance in many animal species, some researchers believe that bigger males attract more mates. However, a recent study published in Behavioral Ecology challenges this assumption. The research focused on a specific population of desert locusts. Surprisingly, the findings showed that females were more likely to choose males with smaller body sizes, not larger. This seemingly counterintuitive behavior might be linked to the females' preference for males with better camouflage abilities. Smaller males, with a lower profile, could be less conspicuous to predators, potentially increasing the survival chances of their offspring.

The argument in the passage proceeds by

The argument in the passage proceeds by

A common expectation is that bigger males get more mates because body size often signals dominance. But in one locust population, females preferred smaller males, possibly because smaller males are better camouflaged, which could improve offspring survival.

A. indicating that behavior commonly expected to underlie a phenomenon may be reversed even without essentially implying a reversal in reasons justifying the same.

This matches.  The passage shows the expected pattern (preference for bigger males) can flip (preference for smaller males), while still keeping the same general kind of “why” in place: mate choice is tied to a trait that improves reproductive success. In many species that trait might be dominance linked to size; in these locusts it might be camouflage linked to being smaller. So the direction changes, but the underlying logic of choosing an advantage does not have to change.

B. dismissing a claim made about the widespread presence of a uniform behavior across animal species by presenting an evidence of contrary behavior in one such species.

Too strong. The passage never claims a uniform behavior across all species; it says “often” and “some researchers believe,” so it is not really “dismissing” a universal claim.

C. establishing the widespread presence of a general behavior among animal species by presenting an evidence in support of that behavior.

Opposite. The passage presents a counterexample, not support for the bigger male preference.

D. implying an analogy in behavior of two different species of the animal kingdom to justify the reason for a change in behavior in one species.

No analogy between two species is used. The reasoning stays within locusts.

E. presenting evidence that a widely observed behavior is more common to one species than the other.

Not discussed. There is no comparison of how common the behavior is in one species versus another.

Answer: (A)

Since larger body size is often associated with dominance in many anim

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Since larger body size is often associated with dominance in many anim

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