Logical Reasoning

PT152 · S1 · Q18 In an island nature preserve

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In an island nature preserve, Common Eider nests are found in roughly equal numbers in highly concealing woody vegetation, wooden boxes, and open grasslands that do not conceal nests.

Given that ...

Common Eiders sometimes lay their eggs in another bird's nest, in the hopes of putting their eggs in an area that's maximally safe from predation, and thus you'd expect them to pick a nest that is concealed in woody vegetation.

Why is it that ...

They usually pick established nests in wooden boxes?

Evaluate / Goal

We need to hear what's better about picking a nest in a wooden box. Presumably, it will relate to their overall goal, which is to be maximally safe from predation.

18.

Which one of the following, if true, would most help to explain why, in this nature preserve, Common Eiders that lay their eggs in other birds' nests most commonly select established nests in wooden boxes?

Some Common Eiders that lay
No Distinction
This answer has nothing to do with explaining why nests in wooden boxes are a preferred option over nests concealed in woody vegetation, because the answer doesn't tell us any fact that would distinguish those two options.
3% picked this
Correct
Established nests concealed in woody
Why this is right
We want an answer to explain why CE's prefer nests in wooden boxes to nests concealed in woody vegetation, and this answer is saying, "They prefer wooden box nests because they can actually find that kind of nest." In other words, the CE's would happily plop their eggs in a nest concealed in woody vegetation, if they could only detect one. Instead, what most CE's do is settle for a nest in a wooden box, because it's better than the 3rd option (open grassland that does not conceal nests), and it's easier to find.
Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
82% picked this
Defensive behavior by nest builders
No Distinction
This answer has nothing to do with explaining why nests in wooden boxes are a preferred option over nests concealed in woody vegetation, because the answer doesn't tell us any fact that would distinguish those two options. This answer would apply to a nest builder whether the nest was being built in a concealed woody area or in a wooden box.
6% picked this
Virtually all of the island
No Distinction
This answer has nothing to do with explaining why nests in wooden boxes are a preferred option over nests concealed in woody vegetation, because the answer doesn't tell us any fact that would distinguish those two options.
4% picked this
Foxes and other natural predators
No Distinction
This answer has nothing to do with explaining why nests in wooden boxes are a preferred option over nests concealed in woody vegetation, because the answer doesn't tell us any fact that would distinguish those two options.
5% picked this

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