Reading Passage Question
In strongly territorial birds such as the indigo bunting, song is the main mechanism for securing, defining, and defending an adequate breeding area. When population density is high, only the strongest males can retain a suitable area. The weakest males do not breed or are forced to nest on poor or marginal territories.
During the breeding season, the male indigo bunting sings in his territory; each song lasts two or three seconds with a very short pause between songs. Melodic and rhythmic characteristics are produced by rapid changes in sound frequency and some regularity of silent periods between sounds. These modulated sounds form recognizable units, called figures, each of which is reproduced again and again with remarkable consistency. Despite the large frequency range of these sounds and the rapid frequency changes that the bird makes, the number of figures is very limited. Further, although we found some unique figures in different geographical populations, more than 90 percent of all the figures of birds from different regions are alike. Indigo bunting figures are extremely stable on a geo- graphic basis. In our studies of isolated buntings we found that male indigo buntings are capable of singing many more types of figures than they usually do. Thus, it would seem that they copy their figures from other buntings they hear singing.
Realizing that the ability to distinguish the songs of one species from those of another could be an important factor in the evolution of the figures, we tested species recognition of a song. When we played a tape recording of a lazuli bunting or a painted bunting, male indigo buntings did not respond, even when a dummy of a male indigo bunting was placed near the tape recorder. Playing an indigo bunting song, however, usually brought an immediate response, making it clear that a male indigo bunting can readily distinguish songs of its own species from those of other species.
The role of the song figures in intraspecies recognition was then examined . We created experimental songs composed of new figures by playing a normal song backwards, which changed the detailed forms of the figures without altering frequency ranges or gross temporal features. Since the male indigos gave almost a full response to the backward song, we concluded that a wide range of figure shapes can evoke positive responses. It seems likely, therefore, that a specific configuration is not essential for intraspecies recognition' but it is clear that song figures must conform to a particular frequency range, must be within narrow limits of duration, and must be spaced at particular intervals.
There is evidence that new figures may arise within a population through a slow process of Change and selection. This variety is probably a valuable adaptation for survival: if every bird sang only a few types of figures, in dense woods or underbrush a female might have difficulty recognizing her mate's song, and a male might not be able to distinguish a neighbor from a stranger. Our studies led us to conclude that there must be a balance between song stability and conservatism, which lead to clear-cut species recognition, and song variation which leads to individual recognition.
“In strongly territorial birds such as the indigo bunting”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) raise new issues
(B) explain an enigma
(C) refute misconceptions
(D) reconcile differing theories
(E) analyze a phenomenon
Answer: E
Explanation: Option E, Analyze a phenomenon, will be the correct option as the passage discusses the natural phenomenon, about the song that the male indigo bunting sings. This primarily focuses on the functions, components, and forms of the song. There are no instances of raising a new issue, explaining an enigma, refuting misconception, or reconciling differing theories. Therefore Option E is the correct answer.
- According to the passage, which of the following is true about the number and general nature of figures sung by the indigo bunting?
(A) They are established at birth.
(B) They evolve slowly as the bird learns.
(C) They are learned from other indigo buntings.
(D) They develop after the bird has been forced onto marginal breeding areas.
(E) They gradually develop through contact with prospective mates.
Answer: C
Explanation: Option C, they are learned from other indigo buntings. Is the correct answer, as in the second paragraph. The author clearly mentions that the male indigo bunting copies the
figures from other buntings in a natural environment. This fact explains why the number and general nature of figures are limited. Therefore Option C is the correct answer.
- It can be inferred that the investigation that determined the similarity among more than 90 percent of all the figures produced by birds living in different regions was undertaken to answer which of the following questions?
- How much variation, if any, is there in the figure types produced by indigo buntings in different locales?
- Do local populations of indigo buntings develop their own dialects of figure types?
- Do figure similarities among indigo buntings decline with increasing geographic separation?
(A) II only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
Answer: E
Explanation: Option E is the correct option as the passage includes the variations of figures, unique figures among birds, and the effects of increasing geographic separation. Further, in the next paragraph, the author describes some strategies which can be used by the investigators to obtain this information precisely. Therefore, option E, which includes all three investigation issues of, the number of variations in the figure types. Whether the indigo bunting develops their dialects of figure types. Whether there is a decline in indigo bunting similarities with increasing geographic sensation.
- It can be inferred from the passage that the existence of only a limited number of indigo bunting figures serves primarily to
(A) ensure species survival by increasing competition among the fittest males for the females
(B) increase population density by eliminating ambiguity in the figures to which the females must respond
(C) maintain the integrity of the species by restricting the degree of figure variation and change
(D) enhances spices recognition by decreasing the number of figure patterns to which the bird must respond
(E) avoid confusion between species by clearly demarcating the figure patterns of each species
Answer: D
Explanation: Option D, that is, existence of only a limited number of indigo bunting figures serves primarily to enhance species recognition by decreasing number of figure patterns. Which the bird must respond to. The author has mentioned in the third paragraph that the song of the indigo bunting serves as the means of recognition of members from the same species. He has further mentioned the restrictions imposed on the ways of producing figures. And in the last paragraph, it clearly mentions "song stability and conservatism," which means it limits the number of figures and variation. Thus Option D is the correct option.
- It can be inferred that a dummy of a male indigo bunting was placed near the tape recorder that played the songs of different species in order to try to
(A) simulate the conditions in nature
(B) rule out visual cues as a factor in species recognition
(C) supply an additional clue to species recognition for the indigo bunting
(D) provide data on the habits of bunting species other than the indigo bunting
(E) confound the indigo buntings in the experiment
Answer: B
Explanation: Option B, that is, a dummy of a male indigo bunting was placed near the tape recorder that played the songs of different species. In order to try to rule out visual cues as a factor in species recognition. This is so because the author has mentioned in the passage that the sight of the dummy indigo bunting. Is not enough to evoke a song as the reaction to the songs of lazuli and painted buntings. This suggests that the indigo bunting recognizes the species on the basis of the song rather than the sight. Thus ruling out the visual clues.
- According to the passage, the authors played a normal indigo bunting song backward in order to determine which of the following?
(A) What are the limits of the frequency range that will provide recognition by the indigo bunting?
(B) What is the time duration necessary for recognition by the indigo bunting?
(C) How specific must a figure shape be for it to be recognized by the indigo bunting?
(D) How does variation in the pacing of song figures affect the indigo bunting's recognition of the figures?
(E) Is the indigo bunting responding to cues other than those in the song figures?
Answer: C
Explanation: Option C is the correct answer because the researchers tried to check how specific a figure must shape to be recognized by the indigo bunting. Therefore, they played songs in the background by changing the forms of the figures without changing the frequency or temporal features. Thus this experiment was done to find the changes in detail that would fail to elicit responses from the bunting.
- According to the passage, the indigo buntings' songs function in which of the following ways?
- To delineate a breeding area
- To defend a breeding area
- To identify the birds to their mates
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
Answer: E
Explanation: Option E is the correct answer. As the songs of the indigo bunting perform the function to delineate a breeding area, defending a breeding area, and identifying the birds to their mates. The author has mentioned in the first para "song is the main mechanism for securing, defining, and defending an adequate breeding area." Further, in the last para, he said that the song does the function of identification within the species and the female can differentiate the songs of their mate from other males. Therefore all three are the functions of the indigo bunting song.
Suggested GMAT Reading Comprehension Samples
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Typically managed by small groups such as husband-and-wife teams
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Business analysts remain divided over the reasons behind the declining average lifespan
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Modern Containerization was Born with the Concept of Intermodalism
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Chief Executive Officers are Often Driven more by their Short-Term Personal Interests
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Courts have Long Allowed Custom-Made Medical Illustrations Depicting Personal Injury
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- A Pressing Need in the Study of Organizations is for More Research
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Globally, About a Third of the Food Produced for Human Consumption
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- The Recently-Implemented Small Enterprise Development Program
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- One Clear Advantage of Selling Goods Online is that Smaller
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- While envy-based marketing is a popular tactic among brands
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- The National Bank Act was passed in 1864
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Defined as an Aggregate Measure of Production Equal to the Sum of the Gross
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- The Modern Multinational Corporation is Described as having Originated
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Like any industry, the gaming industry has seen several cycles of expansion and consolidation
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- In an Atmosphere of Increasing Scrutiny of Securities Trading
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- In Periods When there are more Qualified Candidates than Job Openings
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- Although the European Central Bank (ECB) is Subject to Far More Constraints
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- The Stock Market Tends to Move in Response to the Release of the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- The World Wide Web, a Network of Electronically Produced and Interconnected
- GMAT Reading Comprehension- In the Early 1970s, a New System of Organizing the Grow- ing
Comments