Question

while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• torres del paine national park is located in the patagonia region of chile.
• the park has the highest density of pumas on earth, with an estimated one puma for every ten square kilometers.
• pumas, also known as mountain lions, are solitary predators.
• in the park, pumas mainly prey on guanacos (wild mammals closely related to llamas).
• the abundance of guanacos in the park helps sustain the large puma population.

the student wants to give a reason for the high population density of pumas in torres del paine national park. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
choose 1 answer:
a torres del paine national park in chile has the highest density of pumas on earth, with an estimated one puma for every ten square kilometers.
b the pumas in torres del paine national park primarily prey on guanacos, a wild mammal closely related to the llama.
c one reason why the population density of pumas in torres del paine national park is so high is because of the abundance of their main prey, guanacos.
d pumas, which can be found in patagonias torres del paine national park, are solitary predators.

Explanation:

• Option A just restates the fact about puma density without giving a reason.
• Option B only mentions the prey (guanacos) but doesn't connect it to the high puma population density.
• Option C clearly states that the abundance of guanacos (their main prey) is a reason for the high puma population density, which uses relevant information from the notes.
• Option D talks about pumas being solitary predators, which is not related to the reason for high population density.

Answer:

C. One reason why the population density of pumas in Torres del Paine National Park is so high is because of the abundance of their main prey, guanacos.