PrepTest 136, Section 3, Question 19
Traditional theories of animal behavior assert that animal(454 more words not shown)
The primary purpose of the(3 more words not shown)
- Apresent an alternative(4 more words not shown)
- Bdescribe a phenomenon(4 more words not shown)
- Cevaluate evidence used(4 more words not shown)
- Dpresent data that(4 more words not shown)
- Esuggest that a(8 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
What is the author doing with the spider example? Introducing a way to explain behavior that doesn't fit the traditional model well. The traditional account emphasizes fixed displays; evolutionary game theory relates varied behavior to changing risks and payoffs.
What we’re looking for
That is an alternative approach to this problem. We don't have to throw out the traditional model for all animals in order to offer a better account of these spiders.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
The author presents evolutionary game theory as a closer fit for the territorial disputes. Alternative means another explanatory approach here, not proof that everything the older theory says must be false. This captures the purpose behind introducing the new model and deriving predictions from it.
- B
The author does describe the fighting, but then tries to explain it through a theory. Mere description and examples leave out that central explanatory work.
- C
This isn't organized as an assessment of evidence offered for someone else's argument. The main work is presenting an explanatory model and applying it to a case.
- D
We do receive numerical information about habitat suitability, so the problem isn't that there are no data at all. The problem is the claimed use: the author isn't presenting those figures to refute a controversial theory. They help generate predictions from the proposed account.
- E
The author presents the new theory as useful. No criticism says it rests on inadequate research.
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