PrepTest 152

Incorrect. If that's the case, then scaring those small fish away seems like a bad idea, making this paradox worse!

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Facts

Question Type:
Paradox

Stimulus Summary:
Researchers believed that cuttlefish made themselves look bigger to scare off predators, but they instead use it to scare off small fish that don't eat them.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument here raises a phenomenon—the "startle display"—and then provides an explanation (scaring predators) that doesn't appear to match up with further observations (using it just to scare small fish). The correct answer, therefore, should provide a reason that the cuttlefish use this "startle display" to scare off smaller fish (and, since it's a Paradox question, bonus points if it's tied into scaring off predators).

Answer Explanation:
This answer explains a benefit of scaring off big fish that relates to predation—the small fish attract the predators. By scaring the small fish off, there are fewer predators around, thus protecting the cuttlefish.

Key Takeaway:
Be careful that you clearly state the paradox! Here, the cuttlefish used the startle display on small fish, so we needed to find an answer that explained that. Answers not dealing with the small fish, therefore, couldn't resolve the paradox and could be dismissed!

Incorrect. This may explain why the "startle display" works on small fish, but it doesn't explain why the cuttlefish are using the display on them.

Incorrect. This answer is out of scope without massive assumptions about using that color change for camouflage against predators or for some other related function.

Incorrect. This doesn't explain why they use the "startle display" to scare off small fish—in fact, it doesn't discuss small fish at all!