Read the excerpt from "The Day the Gulls Went Crazy". Clearly, "bird brains" are more complicated than we think. And perhaps, we humans aren't so smart after all. That's something to think about next time you watch a bird. And if you see some gulls, think twice before you disturb them. They just might remember your face. And as Larry can tell you, they dive-bomb with missile-like accuracy.

Which statement best explains how the passage supports the author's purpose?

The purpose is to inform; it explains how people can safely interact with gulls.

The purpose is to question; the author doubts gulls can really memorize what people look like.

The purpose is to persuade; the author wants readers to appreciate that gulls are more intelligent than people realize.

The purpose is to entertain; the author jokes that gulls will take revenge if people bother them.

Read the sample student claim and counterclaim. claim: although many people argue that medical testing on animals is a violation of animal rights, the benefits it yields for society far outweigh any argument that can be made. counterclaim: there are safer and more accurate ways to test medications without using animals. what evidence would most weaken the counterclaim presented here? the physiologies of humans and some animals are very similar, so the reactions of these creatures to certain medications are the most reliable guide to the possible reactions of human patients. scientists are more easily able to control an animal’s environment, such as diet and temperature, than they are that of humans, which makes the tests far more reliable than alternative methods. animals have emotions and can feel pain much as humans do, which is why i feel that it is cruel to subject these vulnerable creatures to unfair tests that we are unwilling to conduct on humans. if we ban testing on animals for medical research that could save lives, then it also must be made illegal to hunt and kill animals simply because we would like to include meat in our daily diets.