Get started!

  • Stage 1

    Answer 4 questions correctly in a row.

Animals often behave in certain ways that can increase their reproductive success. Read the passage about a specific animal behavior. Then, follow the instructions below.
a photograph of a black-headed gull
a black-headed gull carrying a broken eggshell
  • Black-headed gulls build their nests on the ground. The gulls' eggs, chicks, and nests are brown, so they blend in with the sand, twigs, and dry grass around them. But the inside of a gull's eggshell is white. When an egg hatches, the white of the broken eggshell stands out from the brown nest. This makes it easier for crows and other predators to find the nest and eat the offspring in it.
  • After an egg hatches, the parent gull leaves the nest to carry the broken eggshell away. This helps the nest blend in with the environment again. It is harder for predators to find offspring in a nest that blends in with the environment.
Why might removing broken eggshells from the nest increase the reproductive success of a black-headed gull? Complete the claim below that answers this question and is best supported by the passage.
Removing broken eggshells from the nest increases the chances that 
the gull's offspring will survive
ref_doc_title.

Confetti

Jumping to stage 1 of 1

Excellent!

Now entering the Challenge Zone—are you ready?

Teacher tools