Question

read the paragraph, then choose the word that best completes the sentence. hummingbirds use a lot of energy to hover while they extract the nectar from flowers. if a hummingbird spends several hours searching for food without success, it could starve to death purely because it takes so much energy to fly. hummingbirds have to save energy somewhere if they are to be able to get food. a hummingbird does this by entering a state called \torpor.\ when in this state, the hummingbirds body temperature falls nearly 50 degrees f (28 degrees c). its metabolic rate decreases by two - thirds the normal rate. though torpid hummingbirds use energy, the decreased usage helps them stay alive when food is scarce. torpor ______ energy. a conserves b neutralizes c disperses d obscures

Explanation:

The text states that humming - birds enter torpor to save energy as their metabolic rate decreases in this state. "Conserves" means to save or prevent the wasteful use of something, which fits the context as torpor helps humming - birds save energy when food is scarce. "Neutralizes" means to make something ineffective, "disperses" means to spread out, and "obscures" means to make something unclear, none of which fit the context.

Answer:

A. conserves