SAT #13 Reading (Question 50)

Question

The author indicated that a possible reason for black-headed finches’ risk-taking behavior is that [...]?

Answer 1

Answer Choice D is the correct answer because Lines 89-93 say, “This makes sense when you consider the high risk of predation faced by red-headed birds if they take too many risks and the need for black-headed birds to find food away from the dominant red heads which occupy the safest foraging locations.” This tells us that black-headed birds have to take more risks because all of the food in the safe-locations are protected by red-headed birds, and most closely matches Answer Choice D which says that black-headed finches “struggle to obtain food at the safer locations favored by red-headed finches.” Answer Choice A is incorrect because the Passage describes black-headed finches as being more interested in novelty than red-headed finches, and because it wouldn’t make sense as an explanation for their risk taking behavior. Answer Choice B is incorrect because the black-headed finches don’t have conspicuous coloring, unlike the red-headed finches, and because the Passage doesn’t talk about their boldness towards prey. Answer Choice C is incorrect because the Passage never connects aggression and predator attraction, and doesn’t cite this as a reason why black-headed finches take more risks.

How to solve this? The Question asks, “the author indicated that a possible reason for black-headed finches’ risk-taking behavior is that [...]?”