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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer ID: #44312 The skull
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Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
The fossil consists of a complete skull of an archaeocyte, an extinct group of ancestors of modern cetaceans. Although limited to a skull, the Pakicetus fossil provides precious details on the origins of cetaceans. The skull is cetacean-like but its jawbones lack the enlarged space that is filled with fat or oil and used for receiving underwater sound in modern whales. Pakicetus probably detected sound through the ear opening as in land mammals. The skull also lacks a blowhole, another cetacean adaptation for diving. Other features, however, show experts that Pakicetus is a transitional form between a group of extinct flesh-eating mammals, the mesonychids, and cetaceans. It has been suggested that Pakicetus fed on fish in shallow water and was not yet adapted for life in the open ocean. It probably bred and gave birth on land.

Pakicetus and modern cetaceans have similar

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Option 3: "skull shapes"

Explanation: The text mentions that the skull of Pakicetus is cetacean-like, indicating a similarity in skull shapes between Pakicetus and modern cetaceans, despite some differences in specific features.

Option 1: "hearing structures"

Explanation: The text indicates that Pakicetus likely detected sound through the ear opening, similar to land mammals, and does not possess the specialized hearing structures found in modern cetaceans, which have adaptations for underwater sound detection.

Option 2: "adaptations for diving"

Explanation: The text states that Pakicetus lacks a blowhole, which is a key adaptation for diving in modern cetaceans. This indicates that Pakicetus does not share this adaptation.

Option 4: "breeding locations"

Explanation: The text specifies that Pakicetus probably bred and gave birth on land, while modern cetaceans are adapted to breed in water, indicating a significant difference in breeding locations.

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