SAT Reading & Writing · Command of Evidence (textual)
Many snowshoe hares molt to white fur for winter camouflage largely in response to seasonal changes in daylight length, instead of in…
Many snowshoe hares molt to white fur for winter camouflage largely in response to seasonal changes in daylight length, instead of in direct response to actual snow conditions. A wildlife blog argues that this fixed timing means snowshoe hare populations have no capacity whatsoever to adapt to years with less snow cover. Which finding would most directly complicate the blog's claim?
Answer and explanation
Answer: B: Populations of snowshoe hares show genetic variation in molt timing, which suggests some potential for evolutionary adaptation over generations even though individual hares cannot flexibly adjust…
The blog's claim is an absolute one, "no capacity whatsoever," and B directly complicates that by identifying a specific avenue, genetic variation across generations, through which the population could still adapt over time, even though individual hares are constrained within a single season. A restates the mechanism behind the constraint without addressing longer-term adaptive potential. C and D are background facts about the consequences of mismatch and changing snow patterns that don't address the adaptive-capacity question.
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