When a caterpillar emerges from the egg on a tree branch, it immediately climbs upward until it finds a leaf bud to eat.

[BTGmoderatorDC]

When a caterpillar emerges from the egg on a tree branch, it immediately climbs upward until it finds a leaf bud to eat. Biologists thought that this behavior displayed an innate tendency to move in the direction opposite to the pull of gravity. In a recent experiment, a strong light source was placed at the bottom of a tree, and caterpillars, after hatching, climbed downward.

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by the statements given?


A. Caterpillars have an innate tendency to move in the direction of gravity.

B. Newly hatched caterpillars are unable to see in the dark.

C. Newly hatched caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment.

D. Newly hatched caterpillars move toward the leaf bud nearest to them.

E. The eyes of newly hatched caterpillars become less sensitive to light over time.


OA C

Source: GMAT Prep

[Asimo3089]

When a caterpillar emerges from the egg on a tree branch, it immediately climbs upward until it finds a leaf bud to eat. Biologists thought that this behavior displayed an innate tendency to move in the direction opposite to the pull of gravity. In a recent experiment, a strong light source was placed at the bottom of a tree, and caterpillars, after hatching, climbed downward.

Which of the following hypotheses is best supported by the statements given?


A. Caterpillars have an innate tendency to move in the direction of gravity.

B. Newly hatched caterpillars are unable to see in the dark.

C. Newly hatched caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment.

D. Newly hatched caterpillars move toward the leaf bud nearest to them.

E. The eyes of newly hatched caterpillars become less sensitive to light over time.


OA C

Source: GMAT Prep

Summary. Caterpillar come out of egg, go up to eat leaf. Scientists think caterpillar go up against gravity. New experiment put light down tree, caterpillar go down. Best hypothesis: Caterpillar move to strongest light.

C

[mapadvantageprep]

The best-supported hypothesis by the given statements is:

C. Newly hatched caterpillars move towards the strongest light source in the environment.

The experiment described in the passage demonstrates that when a strong light source was placed at the bottom of a tree, the newly hatched caterpillars climbed downward, indicating that they were moving towards the light source rather than displaying an innate tendency to move in the direction opposite to the pull of gravity. Therefore, hypothesis C is best supported by the statements given.