Questions: page 187 - Analyzing the TextCite Text Evidence Support your responses with evidence from the selection.

1. Evaluate Why does Devlin structure his explanation as he does? Would the essay be more or less effective in explaining the concept of dead reckoning if you knew from the beginning that Ahmed is an ant? Explain.

Devlin structures his essay as he does to have readers focus on the skill rather than the species. The essay might be less effective if readers knew from the beginning that Ahmed is an ant because readers may be less impressed with Ahmed’s abilities.

2. Analyze How does Devlin’s description of Ahmed’s calculations help the reader differentiate between an instinctual act and an act of conscious mental activity as discussed in lines 85-90?

Devlin points out that Ahmed’s ability to navigate is not a conscious mental process. His brain has evolved to be able to carry out the calculations necessary to navigate back home without thinking about them. His comparison to how humans “run or jump” without calculating how to move muscles helps the reader distinguish instinctual behavior from conscious mental activity.

3. Infer What claim is Devlin supporting through his essay? Cite specific words and phrases in your explanation.

Devlin supports the claim that some mathematical concepts are instinctual. He supports his claim with examples of a desert ant that navigates using dead reckoning. Devlin explains how Ahmed, the desert ant, doesn’t retrace his steps after finding food. Instead, he heads in a straight line, directly to its home. Ahmed “has none of the aids that mariners and lunar astronauts made use of.” Devlin also refers to research by Wehner and Srinivasan that showed when an ant was moved after finding food, it would still “head off in exactly the direction it should.” In addition, another study found that desert ants count their steps and calculate distance traveled “in any straight-line direction” using multiplication.