Question

Difficulty: EasyCross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis

Text 1
Urban environments present severe challenges to native bird species. Biologist Clara Dupont argues that cities lack the specialized nesting sites and diverse food sources required for these species to survive. Consequently, Dupont contends that urban development inevitably leads to a decline in native bird populations, forcing them to retreat to undisturbed rural habitats.

Text 2
Environmental scientist Kenji Sato conducted a multi-year study of native bird populations across several major metropolitan areas. Sato observed that many native species successfully adjust to urban environments by nesting on high-rise building ledges and foraging on human food waste. While cities do alter traditional habitats, Sato argues that these spaces also provide new, viable resources that support adaptive native species.

Based on the passages, how would Sato (the author of Text 2) most likely characterize Dupont's claim in Text 1 that cities inevitably force native birds to retreat to rural habitats?

  1. A
    It is supported by Sato's finding that birds nesting on buildings will eventually return to rural areas.
  2. B
    It is correct because Sato believes that cities lack the nesting sites necessary for birds.
  3. It is inaccurate because it ignores the capacity of certain native bird species to adapt to urban settings.Answer
  4. D
    It is correct because it matches Sato's observation that urban development has no positive effects on bird populations.

Answer

The correct answer is that the claim is inaccurate because it ignores the capacity of certain native bird species to adapt to urban settings.
The correct answer is the option stating that the claim is inaccurate because it ignores the capacity of certain native bird species to adapt to urban settings. In Text 1, Dupont claims that urban development inevitably leads to a decline in native bird populations, forcing them to retreat to rural areas. In Text 2, Sato challenges this view by providing evidence that many native species adjust to urban environments by nesting on building ledges and foraging on food waste, demonstrating that cities offer new resources that support adaptive species.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main claim of Dupont in Text 1 regarding urban environments.
Dupont claims that cities inevitably cause a decline in native bird populations and force them to retreat to rural areas due to a lack of resources.
This establishes the premise that needs to be evaluated from Sato's perspective.
2
Analyze Sato's findings and argument in Text 2.
Sato finds that many native bird species adjust to cities by using building ledges and food waste, showing that urban spaces provide new resources for adaptive species.
This provides the contrasting perspective to evaluate Dupont's claim.
3
Synthesize the relationship between Sato's findings and Dupont's claim.
Since Sato shows birds can adapt and thrive in cities, he would view Dupont's claim of inevitable retreat as incorrect because it overlooks this adaptability.
This leads directly to the correct answer.

Key Concept

Cross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis
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