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Difficulty: EasyDistinguishing Main Ideas from Supporting Details

The archerfish is a remarkable freshwater fish found in the mangrove swamps of South and Southeast Asia. What makes the archerfish unique is its ability to hunt land-based insects by shooting them down with a precise stream of water. To achieve this, the archerfish presses its tongue against a groove in the roof of its mouth, forming a tube that acts like a gun barrel. It then squeezes its gills to force water out of the tube, creating a powerful jet. The fish can accurately hit prey up to two meters away. Additionally, the archerfish is capable of compensating for light refraction at the water's surface, adjusting its aim instantly to hit its target. While it also feeds on typical aquatic prey like smaller fish and insects floating on the water, its specialized spitting technique is its primary and most distinctive method of securing food. Scientists study this behavior to understand how complex visual-motor coordination can evolve in relatively simple organisms.

Which of the following statements best expresses the main point of the passage?

  1. A
    Freshwater fish in South Asia have adapted in various ways to survive in swamp environments.
  2. B
    The archerfish can shoot water at prey from a distance of up to two meters.
  3. The archerfish is distinguished by its unique and precise ability to hunt land-based insects by spitting water.Answer
  4. D
    The archerfish feeds only on land-based insects and does not eat aquatic prey.

Answer

The archerfish is distinguished by its unique and precise ability to hunt land-based insects by spitting water.
The correct answer is correct because the passage as a whole focuses on describing the archerfish's specialized spitting technique, the mechanics of how it is executed, and its significance. The other details in the passage—such as where it lives, the distance of the spit, and the scientific interest in its visual-motor coordination—all serve to support this central idea.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to identify the primary subject and central focus.
The text describes the unique spitting ability of the archerfish, details how it works physically, and mentions why scientists study this behavior.
Understanding the overall subject is the first step in separating the main idea from supporting details.
2
Evaluate the details to see if they support the central focus.
Details such as the two-meter range, tongue placement, and gill squeezing explain how and how well the spitting technique works, directly supporting the central topic of the unique hunting mechanism.
This helps confirm that the spitting behavior is the main idea, while the physical mechanics are supporting details.
3
Compare the options to find the statement that summarizes the entire passage without being too broad or too narrow.
The statement about the archerfish's unique ability to hunt by spitting water encompasses the whole passage, unlike options that focus on single details or make overly broad generalizations.
The correct option must represent the author's primary focus throughout the entire passage.

Key Concept

Distinguishing Main Ideas from Supporting Details
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Distinguishing Main Ideas from Supporting Details

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