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GATE 2021 ME (ME1) – Question 6

General Aptitude · Analytical Aptitude: Logical Reasoning and Deduction · 2 marks · Multiple choice

Oxpeckers and rhinos manifest a symbiotic relationship in the wild. The oxpeckers warn the rhinos about approaching poachers, thus possibly saving the lives of the rhinos. Oxpeckers also feed on the parasitic ticks found on rhinos. In the symbiotic relationship described above, the primary benefits for oxpeckers and rhinos respectively are,

  1. Food source; no benefit
  2. Habitat saved from poachers; no benefit
  3. Food source; possible protection from poachers
  4. Poachers saved; rhinos save themselves

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (C) Food source; possible protection from poachers

Explanation

Feeding on ticks supplies food to the birds. Their warning calls can alert rhinos to danger and potentially save them from poachers.

These are precisely the two stated benefits, **C**. The other choices deny the rhino’s benefit or attribute an unsupported benefit to poachers.