argument type RC
When an Osprey ( a fishing-eating hawk ) returns from fishing to its nesting area with a fish like an alewife, a pollack, or a smelt, other Osprey's will retrace its flight path in hopes of good fishing. There is seldom such a response if the first bird brings back a winter flounder. Yet ospreys feed on winter flounder just as readily as on any other fish.
Which of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the fishing behavior of ospreys as it is described above ?
1.Ospreys are seldom able to catch alewives, pollack or smelt.
2.Alewives, pollack, and smelt move in schools, but winter flounder do not.
3.Winter flounder prefer shallower waters than do alewives, pollack or smelt.
4.Winter flounder and pollack exhibit protective coloration, but alewives and smelt do not.
5.Ospreys that live in nesting areas are especially successful fishers.
Posted Apr 24, 2019
Hello Zheng!
Thanks for your question.
The correct answer here is number 2. If one Osprey has caught a fish that swims in a school, then the other Ospreys might be able to catch more fish from that same school. Since winter flounder swim alone, there is no reason to go back to the spot that the single fish was caught.
The prompt illustrates a difference between alewife/pollack/spelt and winter flounder. So we need and answer that explains the difference. Only answers 2 and 3 contrast alewife/pollack/spelt and winter flounder. Answer 3 doesn't help, though, because we do not know if Osprey prefer to hunt in shallower or deeper water. Hence, answer 2 is the only possible option.
Hope that helps!
May 7, 2019 • Comment
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