Question 17·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Gray wolves (Canis lupus) typically form packs of 6–8 individuals that cooperate to hunt large prey such as elk or moose.
- Coyotes (Canis latrans) usually live and hunt in pairs or small family groups, primarily targeting smaller prey like rodents and rabbits.
The student wants to emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior between gray wolves and coyotes. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis, start by restating the exact goal (here, a difference in social hunting behavior). Then pull the most relevant note details (wolves: packs of 6–8; coyotes: pairs/small family groups) and choose the option that directly contrasts those points without adding unsupported information or leaving out a required side of the comparison.
Hints
Focus on the goal in the question
Underline the phrase “emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior”. Look for an option that compares group hunting (packs vs pairs/family groups).
Identify key social-hunting details in the notes
The notes give you two key comparison points: wolves = packs of 6–8 and coyotes = pairs or small family groups. The best choice should include both.
Check relevance and accuracy
Eliminate any option that (1) focuses mostly on prey/diet, (2) doesn’t compare both species’ social hunting, or (3) contradicts the notes.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the task
The student wants to emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior. So the best choice must compare how each species hunts in groups (pack vs pair/family group), not just what they eat.
Identify the key note details to use
From the notes:
- Gray wolves: form packs of 6–8 that cooperate to hunt large prey.
- Coyotes: usually live and hunt in pairs or small family groups, targeting smaller prey.
Eliminate choices that don’t meet the goal or aren’t supported
- Choice A mentions both species and prey generally, but it doesn’t emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior.
- Choice C contrasts prey size, but it doesn’t state coyotes’ social hunting structure (pairs/small family groups).
- Choice D says coyotes “generally hunt alone,” which contradicts the notes (they usually hunt in pairs or small family groups).
Select the choice that directly contrasts social hunting behavior
Only one option clearly contrasts both animals’ group hunting behavior (wolves in packs of 6–8 vs coyotes in pairs/small family groups) while staying within the notes.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
Gray wolves hunt in packs of 6–8 to take large prey, while coyotes usually hunt in pairs or small family groups for smaller prey.