OE1) (C) If the researchers are calling the explanation a “useful way to tie” things together, it makes sense that “hailed” means lauded (praised) in this context
2) (B, C) Like any trait that current organisms possess, conspicuous markings must exist because organisms with them are the offspring of previous generations that survived long enough to
reproduce. By saying that there is a “trade off” in terms of color function, the author implies that any trait would not exist unless it had a corresponding benefit to the organism’s survival, and
therefore, its reproduction. He also implies that conspicuous markings may be detrimental to an organism, contrasting them with cryptic (camouflaging) markings, giving further evidence that being conspicuous must help an organism breed, (B). Choice (C) is also supported by this reasoning
3) (B) By saying that an organism’s color is an “adaptive function,” the author implies that its color can help the organism in different ways at different times, which supports the assertion that these demands may be “competing,” i.e., a color that helps with one demand may be unhelpful for another.
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