Questions 1 and 2 are based on this passage
For Temnothorax ants in search of suitable rock crevices for new nest sites, size is an important consideration, and certain behaviors suggest how scouts might compare the size of several sites. After entering a crevice, scouts invariably exit and reenter. During their first inspection, they mark their route with their personal pheromones. (Experiments have shown that workers can distinguish their own pheromones from those of nest mates.) Some researchers believe that these ants are counting the frequency of intersections between their two exploratory trails. The smaller the area, the more likely they are to cross a spot twice. The observation that Temnothorax scouts always pave out a path of the same length on their first visit to sites strongly supports this hypothesis.
Which of the following best describe the function of the highlighted portion of the passage?
It clarifies the relationship between the scout ants’ behavior and the quality of a potential nesting site.
It offers a hypothesis to explain why ants make only two trips through each potential nesting site
It attempts to reconcile the behavior of scout ants with the nesting locations eventually chosen by their colonies
It challenges the conclusion of researchers about scout ants ‘specific behavior
It undermines observations of former experiments about Temnothorax ant’s ability to distinguish pheromones
Select one answer choice.

