Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 40%

Because they live in colonies, ants and other social insects have managed to displace solitary insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles, from the most favored nest sites and more defensible foraging sites. Social insects take territorial possession of the larger spaces of the vegetation and ground, whereas solitary species predominate in peripheral twigs, leaf surfaces, and wet or very dry portions of dead wood.

The passage implies that larger spaces of the vegetation and ground are

Rationale

Likely to provide foraging sites that are easier to defend.

The passage indicates that social insects, such as ants, occupy larger spaces in vegetation and the ground, which allows them to effectively claim and defend these areas against solitary insects. This territorial behavior suggests that the larger spaces facilitate more defensible foraging sites for the social insects.

A (likely to provide foraging sites that are easier to defend) CORRECT

This choice accurately reflects the passage's assertion that social insects have displaced solitary species from favored sites, indicating that these larger spaces are indeed more defensible for foraging. Social insects' ability to control these areas implies a strategic advantage in resource access and protection.

B (typically dominated by grasshoppers and beetles) YOUR ANSWER

This option contradicts the passage, which states that social insects have displaced solitary insects such as grasshoppers and beetles from the most favored sites. Thus, it cannot be true that these larger spaces are typically dominated by solitary species.

C (likely to have fewer nesting sites) YOUR ANSWER

The passage does not imply anything about the number of nesting sites in larger spaces. Instead, it emphasizes the displacement of solitary insects, which does not necessarily correlate with fewer nesting opportunities.

D (unlikely to be populated by insects that live in colonies) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that social insects inhabit these larger spaces. It implies, rather, that these areas are predominantly occupied by social insects rather than being devoid of them.

E (populated by equal numbers of social and solitary insects) YOUR ANSWER

This statement is inaccurate as the passage suggests that social insects dominate these territories, thereby displacing solitary insects. It does not support the idea of equal population numbers between the two groups.

Conclusion

The passage clearly illustrates how social insects have established dominance over larger spaces, which allows them to secure foraging sites that are easier to defend against solitary insects. Consequently, the correct interpretation is that these larger spaces favor social insects, reinforcing their territorial advantage, while the other options do not align with the information provided.

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