Birds have a reputation as excellent parents. They expend a great deal of effort in building nests in which to lay their eggs. They patiently incubate the eggs, keeping them warm and safe until they hatch. Birds also bring food to their newly hatched offspring until the baby birds are independent. However, some unusual birds, known as brood parasites, don’t provide any parental care for their young. Perhaps the most famous brood parasite is the cuckoo. Instead of building a nest, the cuckoo lays her eggs in the nest of another species with similar-looking eggs. The female cuckoo simply removes an egg laid by the host female, lays her own egg, and then leaves, expecting the host bird to care for the imposter.
What is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
Most birds build nests for their young, incubate the eggs, and are generally devoted parents.
Unlike most species of birds, brood parasites such as the cuckoo don’t provide any parental care.
Unlike most species of birds, brood parasites such as the cuckoo don’t build nests.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: Unlike most species of birds, brood parasites such as the cuckoo don’t provide any parental care.
Explanation:
The passage contrasts typical bird parenting with that of brood parasites, like the cuckoo. Most birds are described as devoted parents, building nests, incubating their eggs, and feeding their offspring until they can survive on their own. However, the central idea of the passage focuses on the behavior of brood parasites, which includes the cuckoo as an example. These birds, unlike most other species, do not build their own nests or care for their eggs and offspring. Instead, the female cuckoo lays her egg in the nest of another bird species and relies on the host bird to raise her young.
While the passage does mention that cuckoos don’t build nests and that they lay their eggs in other species’ nests, it emphasizes the absence of parental care as the defining characteristic of brood parasites. Therefore, the central theme is about the lack of parental involvement in the lifecycle of these birds, which differentiates them from most other birds that care for their young. This idea highlights how brood parasites have adapted to exploit the nurturing behavior of other species, rather than engaging in the traditional parental roles that are common among birds.