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Multiple Choice
Watching squirrels in the park, you start to wonder why they act so oddly. One squirrel bit the tail of another. Which of the following is a question about the proximate cause of this behavior?
A
Does biting help keep other squirrels from stealing food?
B
Was the squirrel defending a mate from an intruder?
C
Is this biting behavior a form of courtship?
D
None of the listed responses is correct.
E
Does the presence of a tail close by cause a squirrel to bite?
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the difference between proximate and ultimate causes. Proximate causes explain how a behavior occurs, focusing on the immediate physiological or environmental triggers. Ultimate causes explain why a behavior occurs, focusing on the evolutionary significance.
Identify the behavior in question, which is a squirrel biting the tail of another squirrel.
Consider the options provided and determine which one addresses the immediate trigger or mechanism of the behavior. Proximate questions often involve sensory, neural, hormonal, or genetic mechanisms.
Evaluate the given options: 'Does biting help keep other squirrels from stealing food?' and 'Was the squirrel defending a mate from an intruder?' These questions focus on the purpose or evolutionary advantage, which are ultimate causes.
Recognize that the question 'Does the presence of a tail close by cause a squirrel to bite?' focuses on the immediate environmental trigger, making it a question about the proximate cause of the behavior.