SAT OwlCliff swallows nest in large colonies, and they appear to share information about food. Researchers observed that swallows returning to the colony after an unsuccessful foraging trip often followed neighbors who had returned with food when those neighbors left again. Swallows that had found food on their own previous trip were much less likely to follow others. Following was also most common on days when insects gathered in scattered, short-lived swarms. These observations suggest that cliff swallows ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
always follow the most successful forager in the colony.
avoid foraging alone because doing so exposes them to predators.
rely on neighbors' success mainly when their own foraging has failed and food is hard to find.
deliberately lead other swallows to food in exchange for help in the future.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
Two patterns appear: unsuccessful birds follow more than successful ones, and following increases when food is patchy and fleeting. Together they suggest swallows use others' success when they have failed and food is hard to locate, choice C.
Choice D is tempting, but the observations describe followers choosing to trail successful birds; nothing shows that successful birds lead others on purpose or expect anything in return.
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