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Difficulty: EasyFunction of Specific Details

As urban environments expand, many wildlife species face the challenge of surviving in habitats dominated by human activity. While some animals simply relocate, others undergo rapid behavioral adaptations to cope with these new pressures. For instance, researchers have observed that the great tit, a common songbird, has begun singing at significantly higher pitches in cities compared to its forest-dwelling counterparts. This acoustic shift allows the urban birds' calls to be heard over the continuous, low-frequency rumble of city traffic, ensuring they can still attract mates and defend territories.

Which of the following accurately describe the logical function of the author's reference to the great tit's singing behavior in the passage? Select all that apply.

  1. To provide a concrete example of a species rapidly adapting its behavior to an urban environmentAnswer
  2. To illustrate how a specific animal overcomes a challenge created by human activityAnswer
  3. C
    To explain why the continuous, low-frequency rumble of traffic forces most wildlife to relocate
  4. D
    To introduce a counterargument challenging the idea that animals can cope with new pressures
  5. E
    To state the author's overarching conclusion that all songbirds must change their mating calls to survive

Answer

The great tit example functions to provide a concrete example of a species adapting its behavior to an urban environment and to illustrate how a specific animal overcomes a human-created challenge.
The correct choices accurately reflect the structural role of the great tit example. Introduced by the phrase 'For instance,' the detail serves directly to support the previous sentence's claim that animals undergo behavioral adaptations. It fulfills this purpose by providing a concrete illustration of a species adapting (changing its song pitch) and demonstrating how this adaptation successfully overcomes a specific challenge (city traffic noise).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the general claim immediately preceding the specific detail.
The preceding sentence states that some animals 'undergo rapid behavioral adaptations to cope with these new pressures.'
Understanding the context of a detail is necessary to determine its rhetorical function.
2
Examine the specific detail and how it connects logically to the preceding claim.
The passage uses the transition phrase 'For instance' and describes how the great tit changes its song pitch to be heard over city noise.
This establishes the logical relationship between the broad claim and the specific evidence.
3
Synthesize the function of the detail based on its relationship to the surrounding context.
The detail serves as a concrete illustration of the adaptation mentioned earlier, showing exactly how one species overcomes a human-made environmental challenge.
This confirms the correct logical role the detail plays in the passage's organization.

Key Concept

Identifying the rhetorical and logical function of a specific detail within the broader context of a reading passage.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Function of Specific Details

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