Directions: Read the following excerpt and answer questions asked at the end. The answers to the questions should be based on the excerpt. Today birds inhabit every continent. There are nearly 9000 species classified into 27 orders. Some orders have only one species. The order Passeriformes (perching birds) contains the largest number of species. The most evolved birds are found in the Passeriformes order - sparrows, finches, crows, jays etc. It has generally been found that the survival rate of the primitive orders is much poorer compared to the highly evolved ones. The ability to fly - like many other biological properties of living beings - came about as an adaptation to particular conditions. The variety of habitats and the varied responses to them has led to an incredible diversity of flight techniques. Sparrows cannot glide; the larger vultures are champion gliders but cannot take-off without a run into the wind. Penguins and ostriches cannot fly; geese fly over the Himalayas. It would appear as if no two species fly exactly the same manner.
According to the excerpt what led to the diversity of flight techniques?
Variety of habitats and varied responses to them.
Understanding Bird Flight Diversity from the Excerpt
The question asks what factor, according to the provided excerpt, led to the significant diversity observed in bird flight techniques. We need to carefully read the excerpt to find the specific cause mentioned.
Let's examine the relevant part of the excerpt:
"The ability to fly - like many other biological properties of living beings - came about as an adaptation to particular conditions. The variety of habitats and the varied responses to them has led to an incredible diversity of flight techniques."
This sentence directly addresses the question about the cause of the diversity of flight techniques.
Analyzing the Options Based on the Excerpt
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Option 1: The primitiveness of order. The excerpt mentions that primitive orders might have poorer survival rates than evolved ones, but it does not link primitiveness directly to the diversity of flight techniques. The excerpt suggests evolved birds (Passeriformes) have flight, and different species within and across orders fly differently, but the cause of this diversity isn't stated as primitiveness.
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Option 2: Variety of habitats and varied responses to them. This option directly matches the sentence from the excerpt: "The variety of habitats and the varied responses to them has led to an incredible diversity of flight techniques." The excerpt explicitly states this as the cause.
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Option 3: The ability of the bird to glide. The excerpt mentions that some birds (vultures) can glide while others (sparrows) cannot. This is an example of diversity in flight technique, but gliding itself is not presented as the cause of the overall diversity. It's a result or form of diversity, not the origin of it.
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Option 4: Differences in ability to run. The excerpt mentions that larger vultures cannot take off without a run, implying differences in takeoff methods which are part of flight techniques. However, the excerpt does not state that these differences in the ability to run are what led to the *diversity* of flight techniques in general. Running is mentioned as a specific requirement for takeoff for some birds, not the overarching cause for the diversity across all species.
Conclusion
Based on the clear statement in the excerpt, the cause of the incredible diversity of flight techniques is the variety of habitats and the varied responses of birds to these habitats.
Important Questions from Passage Based Questions
Read the following passage and answer the questions based on it.
As climate change affects seasonal patterns, water management and distribution become important. Rainwater harvesting has become particularly important in urban areas these days. This process involves collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It recovers groundwater levels, prevents water wastage during the monsoon, reduces soil erosion and helps in the availability of drinking water. Above all, it promotes the method of water conservation.
This paragraph supports which of the following statements the most?
A. Climate change has adversely affected humanity.
B. Forests help maintain groundwater levels.
C. Rainwater harvesting is the need of the hour.
D. There are not enough water reserves for urban areas.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above excerpt?
Which of the following statement is FALSE?
Which of the following statements is WRONG in the context of the above excerpt?
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above excerpt?
