While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Some animals have evolved to physically resemble another animal, plant,...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Some animals have evolved to physically resemble another animal, plant, or object.
- This is known as mimicry.
- Crab spiders mimic the appearance of flowers.
- This helps crab spiders ambush their prey.
- Katydids mimic the appearance of leaves.
- This helps katydids hide from their predators.
The student wants to emphasize a difference in how katydids and crab spiders use mimicry. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Katydids mimic the appearance of flowers, and crab spiders mimic that of leaves.
Katydids and crab spiders are two examples of animals that use mimicry.
Unlike crab spiders, which use mimicry to ambush prey, katydids use mimicry to hide from predators.
Animals that use mimicry have evolved to resemble another animal, plant, or object.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Some animals have evolved to physically resemble another animal, plant, or object." |
|
| "This is known as mimicry." |
|
| "Crab spiders mimic the appearance of flowers." |
|
| "This helps crab spiders ambush their prey." |
|
| "Katydids mimic the appearance of leaves." |
|
| "This helps katydids hide from their predators." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Animals use mimicry for different survival purposes - some for hunting and others for protection.
Argument Flow: The notes start with a general definition of mimicry, then provide two contrasting examples that demonstrate how different animals use this adaptation for opposite survival strategies: one offensive (hunting) and one defensive (hiding).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to choose a sentence that emphasizes a difference in how katydids and crab spiders use mimicry.
What type of answer do we need? A sentence that highlights the contrast between these two animals' mimicry strategies.
Any limiting keywords? "difference" is key - we're looking for contrast, not similarity. "emphasize" tells us the answer should make this difference clear and prominent.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key difference is that crab spiders use mimicry offensively to catch prey, while katydids use it defensively to avoid being caught
- The right answer should clearly contrast these two different purposes
- It should mention both animals and explicitly show how their mimicry serves opposite survival functions - one for hunting, one for hiding
Katydids mimic the appearance of flowers, and crab spiders mimic that of leaves.
✗ Incorrect
- Reverses the factual information from the notes
- States katydids mimic flowers and crab spiders mimic leaves, which is backwards
Katydids and crab spiders are two examples of animals that use mimicry.
✗ Incorrect
- Emphasizes what the animals have in common rather than their differences
- Simply states both use mimicry without contrasting their purposes
Unlike crab spiders, which use mimicry to ambush prey, katydids use mimicry to hide from predators.
✓ Correct
- Uses contrast language to create direct comparison between the two animals
- Correctly identifies crab spiders use mimicry to ambush prey and katydids use mimicry to hide from predators
- Perfectly emphasizes the key difference: offensive vs. defensive purposes
Animals that use mimicry have evolved to resemble another animal, plant, or object.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides only general background information about mimicry
- Doesn't mention either specific animal from the question