Information and IdeasHardInference from a mismatch in anatomy
Information and Ideas practice question
The skeleton of the extinct bird has a large, robust keel — the ridge on the breastbone to which flight muscles attach — yet its wings were tiny. Since a keel that size would be useless for flight with such wings, the bird most likely ____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
- A. used its powerful chest muscles for something other than flying, such as swimming.Correct
- B. was able to fly long distances.
- C. had no chest muscles at all.
- D. was a young bird whose wings had not yet grown.
Answer: A. used its powerful chest muscles for something other than flying, such as swimming.
A big keel means big chest muscles; tiny wings rule out flight. So the muscles served another purpose — swimming is one such use.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. was able to fly long distances.
- The text says the wings were too small for flight.
- C. had no chest muscles at all.
- A robust keel implies large muscles, not none.
- D. was a young bird whose wings had not yet grown.
- Nothing suggests the bird was young; the text treats the tiny wings as the species' feature.
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