PT150 S3 Q2 ExplanationThe Common Loon is a migratory bird

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Deepens Paradox1% picked this

   Most of the nearby vacant lakes have served as successful loon breeding territory

   This answer makes the vacant lakes seem super suitable. The more suitable they seem, the more confused we are about why more loons aren't just claiming these vacant ones instead of fighting with the current occupants of some other lake.

   1%
2. B

   No Impact0% picked this

   Contests for occupied breeding territory may be initiated either by male loons or

   This is just talking about how the fight for a given lake takes place. We want to know why it's taking place at all, given that there is a zero-conflict option nearby that's perfectly suitable.

   0%
3. C

   No Impact2% picked this

   Loons that intrude on an occupied breeding territory are successful in ousting its residents about

   This is just talking about how successful loons are when they fight the current occupants for primacy over a given lake. We don't care how the fights turn out. We want to know why they're taking place at all, given that there is a zero-conflict option nearby that's perfectly suitable.

   2%
4. D

   Correct96% picked this

   Loons frequently determine that a lake is a suitable breeding territory by observing the presence of

   Why this is right

   This helps to explain why more loons aren't choosing to just inhabit nearby lakes that are vacant and suitable: the loons don't realize that those vacant lakes are suitable Their cue for whether a lake is suitable is, "Do I see any loons there?" If so, then they surmise that the lake is suitable to breeding loons and then the fight is on for control of that lake! If they don't see any loons (i.e. if they see a vacant lake), they often can't determine whether or not it's suitable for breeding loons, so they don't settle there.

   Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   96%
5. E

   Deepens Paradox1% picked this

   Lakes that are perfectly suitable for loon breeding have fish for food, a site for a nest, and a

   This answer makes the vacant, suitable lakes seem like great places to breed and child-rear. And the more awesome these suitable, vacant lakes seem, the more confused we are about why loons aren't just claiming these vacant ones instead of fighting with the current occupants of some other lake.

   1%