Question

martin dančák, wewin tjiasmanto, and colleagues have identified a new carnivorous plant species (nepenthes pudica) in indonesia. like other carnivorous plants, n. pudica has pitfall traps, or pitchers, that capture prey, but unlike others, the pitchers of n. pudica are located underground. the researchers unearthed the new species on fairly dry ridges with surfaces that host few other plants and animals. therefore, the researchers hypothesize that the n. pudica species likely ______
which choice most logically completes the text?
choose 1 answer:
a is buried by nearby animals as they forage along the ridges for food.
b evolved to have underground traps to access more prey than would surface traps.
c formed pitchers early in development to absorb more moisture.
d represents one of many undiscovered carnivorous plant species in the region.

Explanation:

The text emphasizes that Nepenthes pudica has underground pitchers unlike other carnivorous plants. It is logical that it evolved this way to access more prey in its environment (dry ridges with few surface - dwelling prey). Option A has no basis in the text, option C is about moisture - absorption which is not the focus, and option D is not supported by the given information.

Answer:

B. evolved to have underground traps to access more prey than would surface traps.