RC Question 14 Explanation
DISCUSSION: As with the other questions on this passage, the best approach is to choose 1-2 answers that seem likely, then find lines in the passage to support that answer.
If you can’t find lines to support an answer, it’s almost certainly wrong.
___________
- The author never mentions the number of insects. A small number of deadly insects might have a bigger impact than a large number of harmless insects.
- Absolute nonsense. We’re not told whether plants benefitted from evolution. Plants changed. It’s impossible to say whether they’re better or worse, that depends on the situation.
- The passage never mentions how many species are in a family or how many plant families exist.
- CORRECT. Secondary substances appear due to mutations. (See the second sentence of paragraph 2). Paragraphs 2-3 describe how insects have influenced which secondary substances plants keep.
- Paragraph 3 mentions that insects can circumvent plant defenses, but those lines don’t mention how insects do this.
Interesting. I justified answer E because of lines 45-48 which state how insects circumvent the plants’ defenses. It doesn’t state that outright immunity is part of the list.
I understand D in retrospect, as the article didn’t state that insects have never developed immunity.