Cormorants may look like an average bird, but they are actually skilled divers. These water birds can hold their breath for up to fifteen minutes, dive down to 148 feet, and feast on eels, snakes, and fish.
Which choice best paraphrases the information?
Cormorants are water birds who can hold their breath, dive deep, and feast on eels, snakes, and fish.
Cormorants are skilled divers. They can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes and eat eels, snakes, and fish.
Cormorants are birds that have the ability to locate food in the water by descending deep into bodies of water and holding their breath for substantial periods of time.
Cormorants are not the average bird. They are skilled divers that can hold their breath, dive over 100 feet, and feast on eels, snakes, and fish.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The best paraphrase of the information provided is:
Cormorants are not the average bird. They are skilled divers that can hold their breath, dive over 100 feet, and feast on eels, snakes, and fish.
Explanation:
When paraphrasing, the goal is to convey the original meaning in a new way while retaining essential details. Here’s a breakdown of why this choice is the best:
- Preservation of Key Information:
- The original text emphasizes that cormorants are not average birds and highlights their unique abilities. The chosen paraphrase mirrors this by explicitly stating, “Cormorants are not the average bird.” This establishes the uniqueness of cormorants right from the start, as mentioned in the original passage.
- Skill Emphasis:
- The term “skilled divers” is a direct reflection of the original claim about their diving capabilities. It suggests a level of expertise that is critical to understanding their feeding behavior and survival strategies, which is a central theme of the original text.
- Depth and Breath-Holding Duration:
- The paraphrase mentions “dive over 100 feet” instead of the exact “148 feet.” While it’s a slight rounding down, it retains the essence of their impressive diving capability. Additionally, it states “hold their breath,” which captures the original’s information about the time duration without specifying “up to 15 minutes.” This slight adjustment maintains the meaning without losing the original intent.
- Feeding Habits:
- The mention of “feast on eels, snakes, and fish” directly reflects the original text’s focus on their diet. It effectively conveys what cormorants eat, which is important for understanding their role in the ecosystem.
In contrast, the other options either omit key details, misrepresent the facts, or introduce ambiguity. For instance, while they mention the diving ability or diet, they don’t capture the same level of specificity and impact found in the chosen paraphrase. Overall, the best choice maintains clarity and essential information, providing a well-rounded representation of cormorants.