SAT Reading & Writing · Command of Evidence (textual)
Some tropical bat species bite the structural veins of large leaves so precisely that the leaf collapses into a tent-like shape, which the…
Some tropical bat species bite the structural veins of large leaves so precisely that the leaf collapses into a tent-like shape, which the bats then use as a temporary roost. A nature writer describes this behavior as proof that these bats possess architectural planning abilities comparable to human builders. Which finding would most directly undermine the writer's claim?
Answer and explanation
Answer: D: Multiple unrelated bat species that construct similar leaf tents show no evidence of learning the specific vein-biting technique through observation of other bats, suggesting the behavior may be an…
The writer's claim rests on a specific mechanism, deliberate architectural planning, and D directly challenges that mechanism by showing the behavior looks more like fixed instinct than learned, planned design. A confirms the tents are functional shelters, which is consistent with the behavior existing but says nothing about the mental process behind it. C and B are true but unrelated facts about bat capabilities and geographic range.
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