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 questions like this, start by pinpointing the exact goal stated in the question (here, a difference in social hunting behavior). Then, quickly underline or note the most relevant phrases in the source (group size, how they hunt, etc.). Compare each answer choice to that goal: eliminate any that (1) focus on unrelated information, (2) leave out key parts needed to meet the goal for both subjects, or (3) introduce details not supported by the notes or that contradict them. The correct choice will be both fully supported by the notes and directly aligned with the stated purpose.
Hints
Focus on the goal in the question
Underline the phrase “emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior” in the prompt. Ask yourself: which details from the notes are specifically about how these animals hunt socially?
Identify key social-hunting details in the notes
From the notes, note what is said about group size and type for gray wolves and for coyotes. Keep those specific phrases in mind as you read each answer choice.
Check relevance and accuracy
Eliminate any option that: (1) doesn’t talk about how both animals hunt socially, or (2) adds information not in the notes, or (3) contradicts the notes about how coyotes or wolves live and hunt.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the task
The question says the student wants to emphasize a difference in social hunting behavior between gray wolves and coyotes. That means the best sentence must:
- Talk about how they hunt (group size / social structure), not just what they eat or where they live.
- Clearly contrast gray wolves with coyotes.
Pull out the relevant details from the notes
From the notes:
- Gray wolves: "typically form packs of 6–8 individuals that cooperate to hunt large prey such as elk or moose."
- Key social-hunting idea: packs of 6–8 that cooperate.
- Coyotes: "usually live and hunt in pairs or small family groups, primarily targeting smaller prey like rodents and rabbits."
- Key social-hunting idea: pairs or small family groups.
So the best answer will mention both species and contrast pack size/group type, possibly with prey size as supporting detail.
Eliminate choices that ignore or misuse social behavior
Now compare each option to the goal and the notes:
- Choice A talks about genus and being widespread across North America. That’s taxonomy and range, not social hunting behavior, and “widespread across North America” is not in the notes.
- Choice C correctly describes wolves hunting large prey in packs and coyotes eating small animals, but it never states how coyotes hunt socially (pairs or small family groups). It mainly contrasts diet, not social hunting behavior.
- Choice D says gray wolves live in packs and coyotes do not, which contradicts the notes, because coyotes do live and hunt in pairs or small family groups.
All three fail to correctly and fully emphasize the difference in social hunting behavior.
Confirm the best remaining choice
The remaining option is the only one that:
- Describes gray wolves forming packs of about 6–8 members to hunt large animals.
- Describes coyotes hunting in pairs or small family groups and going after smaller prey.
- Directly sets up a contrast starting with “Unlike gray wolves”, clearly emphasizing the difference in social hunting behavior.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
Unlike gray wolves, which form packs of about 6–8 members to pursue large animals, coyotes tend to hunt in pairs or small family groups that focus on smaller prey.