Many scientists have believed that giraffes are solitary creatures, preferring to spend their time alone instead of with others. But observations of giraffes and their behavior in recent years has suggested that these animals may be more social than we once thought. For example, scientists Zoe Muller and Stephen Harris claim that giraffes may even help each other care for one another’s newborns.

Question

Which finding, if true, would most directly support Muller and Harris’s conclusion?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) Giraffes are able to make sounds but are rarely observed communicating with others.
A
Giraffes are able to make sounds but are rarely observed communicating with others.
(Choice B) Some female giraffes have been observed sniffing and licking their newborn offspring.
B
Some female giraffes have been observed sniffing and licking their newborn offspring.
(Choice C) Confrontations between a younger and an older male giraffe are frequently observed.
C
Confrontations between a younger and an older male giraffe are frequently observed.
(Choice D) Female giraffes have been observed feeding young giraffes that aren’t their direct offspring.
D
Female giraffes have been observed feeding young giraffes that aren’t their direct offspring.

Answer 1

The finding that would most directly support Muller and Harris's conclusion that giraffes may help each other care for one another’s newborns is:

(Choice D) Female giraffes have been observed feeding young giraffes that aren’t their direct offspring.

This observation suggests that giraffes exhibit caring behavior toward the young of others, aligning with the idea of social cooperation in the care of offspring.