The following passage should be read carefully and answer the given questions:…
2023
The following passage should be read carefully and answer the given questions:
Animals communicate with one another in many interesting ways. These may consist of signs, gestures, looks, sounds, smells, or even light produced by the body. Song and dance are other means of communication. When faced with danger, animals warn others using signals such as mock charges, grimaces, or sound. They also call their mates, inform other members of the group about the source of food, advertise territory, and 'teach' the young the ways of the world. Baby birds call their parents for help and attention, and demand food.
Far from being a silent world, the ocean is a noisy place. Fishes, molluscs, sea lions, walruses, whales, and dolphins chatter away in the waters using a variety of sounds — whistles, squeaks, clicks, and groans — which range from low pitch to ultrasonic sounds beyond the range of human hearing. Whales and dolphins are sometimes called the 'musicians of the sea', as birds are of the sky.
For what purpose do animals use sound?
(A) to advertise territory
(B) to warn of dangers
(C) to call their life partner
(D) to invite their enemies
(E) to inform others about the source of food
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.
Only (B), (C) and (D)
- B.
Only (A), (B) and (C)
- C.
Only (A), (B), (C) and (E)
- D.
Only (D) and (E)
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
In a reading-comprehension 'select the correct combination of statements' question, a listed statement counts as TRUE only when the passage explicitly states it or something that means the same thing; a statement that merely sounds plausible but is never stated — or that contradicts the passage — counts as FALSE. The correct option is the one combination that includes every passage-supported statement and excludes every unsupported one.
Checking each statement in this item against the passage:
Advertise territory — supported: the passage lists this among the reasons animals communicate.
Warn of dangers — supported: the passage states animals 'warn others using signals such as mock charges, grimaces, or sound' when faced with danger.
Call their mates — supported: the passage states animals 'call their mates.'
Invite their enemies — NOT supported: the passage never states this, and it would contradict the very idea of warning others away from danger.
Inform others about the source of food — supported: the passage states animals 'inform other members of the group about the source of food.'
Four of the five statements — advertising territory, warning of danger, calling mates, and informing others about a food source — are supported by the passage, while inviting enemies is not. The option combining exactly these four supported statements is the correct answer.
Checking the offered combinations against this:
'Only (B), (C) and (D)' wrongly includes the unsupported 'invite their enemies' statement and drops the supported territory statement.
'Only (A), (B) and (C)' correctly includes only supported statements but stops short of the full list — the passage names one further supported purpose.
'Only (D) and (E)' keeps one supported statement but wrongly adds the unsupported 'invite their enemies' statement while leaving out the other supported purposes.
'Only (A), (B), (C) and (E)' includes exactly the four statements the passage supports and none that it does not — this is the correct combination.