Question

Read the passage given below and pick the option that best fits the question that follows:

Popular illusions about birds extend further than the use of the word 'egg-shape' that would suggest that all eggs are alike. For instance, there is the popular idea that owls hoot. Actually, only very few owls hoot and these include the common brown or tawny wood owl. The white barn owl screeches; the little owl has a wailing cry, the long-. eared owl barks; and the short-eared owl snorts! Another mistaken idea is that all ducks 'quack' because the common farmyard duck is a domesticated form of the common wild duck or mallard that quacks. Actually, most wild ducks call with whistles.

The impression created by repeating the terms, 'popular' and 'common' are:

• A. human beings are closely attached to birds.
• B. our ideas about birds are derived from the most common types.
• C. owls and ducks are our favourite birds.
• D. domesticated birds are our source of information about the bird world.

Answer 1

The correct option is B our ideas about birds are derived from the most common types.

Here, the words "popular" and "common" imply general ideas. We derive these "popular" ideas by observing only the common types of birds and make a generalization. This claim is supported by the statement: "For instance, there is the popular idea that owls hoot. Actually, only very few owls hoot and these include the common brown or tawny wood owl." So, the answer to the required question is option B.