The painted spider spins webs

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Weak (not all)17% picked this

   Not all of the species of insects living in the painted spider’s habitat

   It's true that ground-walking insects probably don't get caught in webs, which usually are suspended above ground level. But "not all" means "at least one isn't", so this just says there's at least one species of insect in the painted spider's habitat that can only walk on objects. That doesn't impact how effective a predator the painted spider is. We weren't expecting it to be able to eat 100% of insects. Also, this answer would affect all the spiders in the habitat equally, so it doesn't help us offset the painted spider's advantage in sticky webs.

   17%
2. B

   Opposite (if anything)2% picked this

   Butterflies and moths, which can shed scales, are especially unlikely to be trapped by spider webs that

   This suggests that other spiders might not be able to trap butterflies and moths, whereas the painted spider potentially could, because it has the stickiest web. So if anything it would help the author argue that painted moths are better predators.

   2%
3. C

   No Impact2% picked this

   Although the painted spider’s venom does not kill insects quickly, it paralyzes

   We can't really argue "the painted spider isn't that good a predator because it's venom doesn't kill quickly", because the insect is paralyzed almost instantly, to the fact that it takes a while for it do die doesn't matter because it's not going anywhere in the meantime (this seems like a good time to feel blessed that you're not an insect).

   2%
4. D

   Correct76% picked this

   Stickier webs reflect more light, and so are more visible to insects, than

   Why this is right

   This answer reveals a potential downside to having stickier webs: they reflect more light and are thus more visible to insects. If insects can see the webs more easily, they are more likely to avoid them, which could reduce the effectiveness of the webs in trapping prey. This helps us argue that painted spiders are NOT the best at catching prey.

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

   76%
5. E

   No Impact3% picked this

   The webs spun by the painted spider are no larger than the webs spun by the other species of

   If the webs of the painted spider were smaller than those of other spiders, then we could use that disadvantage to argue that the painted spider is not better at catching prey. But hearing the webs are not-larger doesn't weaken. If the webs are the same size but much stickier, in the case of the painted spider, then the author can make her case that the painted spider is better at capturing prey.

   3%