Question

scientists have observed bull sharks jumping and spinning out of water, a behavior known as \breaching\. some researchers believe that bull sharks breach to dislodge parasites or dead skin. others believe that it serves as a form of social signaling, such as to help attract mates. lastly, some say that it helps bull sharks hunt by scaring prey.
text 2
bull sharks do not breach as often as other sharks do, and marine biologists do not agree on why they engage in this behavior at all. after researching juvenile bull sharks in the indian river lagoon in florida, biologists tobey curtis and laura j. macesic concluded that the most likely explanation for bull shark breaching is that it helps them hunt by startling prey. they call for more research to be done to explore this theory further.
based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
choose 1 answer:
a one possible explanation for bull shark breaching is that it helps them hunt because it startles prey.
b bull sharks are a social species and they breach as a form of social signaling to other bull sharks.
c bull sharks breach more frequently than any other shark species other than white sharks.
d juvenile bull sharks breach to startle their prey while hunting, whereas adult bull sharks breach to dislodge parasites and dead skin.

Explanation:

• For option A: Text 1 says one view is breaching helps hunt by scaring prey, Text 2 concludes it helps hunt by startling prey. So both accept hunting (scaring/startling prey) as a possible explanation.
• For option B: Text 1 has social signaling as one view, but Text 2 focuses on hunting, so no agreement here.
• For option C: Text 2 says bull sharks breach less often than other sharks, so this is wrong.
• For option D: Text 1 lists dislodging parasites as one view, but Text 2 focuses on hunting in juveniles with no mention of adults' reasons, so no agreement.

Answer:

A. One possible explanation for bull shark breaching is that it helps them hunt because it startles prey.