H D1 TS Q04 – Selective High School

Zoologist: Meerkats are desert mammals that live in groups and are believed to exhibit altruistic(unselfish) behaviour. While the group is foraging, a single meerkat will stand guard, keeping watch for predators and giving loud warning cries when danger appears. However, this behaviour is not true altruism: Meerkats that stand guard face a lower risk of being taken by a predator.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the reasoning in the zoologist's argument?

Some meerkat populations rarely return to the same place to find food. Meerkats are most at risk of being taken by a predator when they are foraging for food. A solitary meerkat who stands guard may be part of a group except for when it forages for food. When meerkats stand guard, they forego opportunities to forage for food even though others in the group may not share food with them.

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Which of the following, if true, most weakens the reasoning in the zoologist's argument?