Question

jan gimsa, robert sleigh, and ulrike gimsa have hypothesized that the sail - like structure running down the back of the dinosaur spinosaurus aegyptiacus improved the animals success in underwater pursuits of prey species capable of making quick, evasive movements. to evaluate their hypothesis, a second team of researchers constructed two battery - powered mechanical models of s. aegyptiacus, one with a sail and one without, and subjected the models to a series of identical tests in a water - filled tank.
which finding from the model tests, if true, would most strongly support gimsa and colleagues hypothesis?
choose 1 answer:
a the model with a sail took significantly longer to travel a specified distance while submerged than the model without a sail did.
b the model with a sail displaced significantly more water while submerged than the model without a sail did.
c the model with a sail had significantly less battery power remaining after completing the tests than the model without a sail did.
d the model with a sail took significantly less time to complete a sharp turn while submerged than the model without a sail did.

Explanation:

Gimsa and colleagues' hypothesis is that the sail - like structure improved the dinosaur's success in underwater pursuits of prey that make quick, evasive movements. A model with a sail taking less time to complete a sharp turn (which is related to evasive movements) would support the hypothesis. Option A shows the sail - model being slower (opposite of what would support), option B about water displacement is not relevant to prey pursuit success, and option C about battery power is not related to the hypothesis.

Answer:

D. The model with a sail took significantly less time to complete a sharp turn while submerged than the model without a sail did.