A squirrel, which makes his home in a national forest, spends six months in the summer and fall collecting and burying nuts. The following winter, the squirrel digs up the nuts and eats them at a time when food is scarce. This situation is most analogous to which of the following scenarios?
A)A large shark patrols a 1,000-square-mile area of the Pacific Ocean seeking tuna and other prey.
B)A farmer plants wheat and corn in a field, and harvests the crop in the fall. The farmer and his wife then store the harvest for consumption at a later time.
C)A bear in a state park spends the summer and fall eating and gaining weight. The bear then hibernates during the winter, relying on its stored fat.
D)A rabbit in a state park forages for grass and other edible plants in both summer and winter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A farmer plants wheat and corn in a field, and harvests the crop in the fall. The farmer and his wife then store the harvest for consumption at a later time. The situation with the squirrel and Answer B are most analogous because they both involve animals that collect/harvest a food item and store it for future consumption. Answer A is not analogous because, by patrolling, the shark is acting as an opportunistic hunter (no forward-looking activity). Answer C is not analogous (or is less analogous) because the bear is not consuming the food item in the winter. Answer D is not analogous because the rabbit is foraging for food in both summer and winter.

A Squirrel, Which Makes His Home in a National Forest