Questions: Malik is trying to explain why barnacles are better adapted to living in the high tide zone than the middle tide zone. What type of adaptation would be the BEST evidence for him to use to support his argument? A. one that enables barnacles to obtain food from either water or air B. one that helps barnacles survive short periods of exposure to air C. one that enables bamacles to move quickly to escape predators D. one that helps bamacles withstand the heavy pounding of waves

The answer is the second one (or B): one that helps barnacles survive short periods of exposure to air.

Explanation for each option:

A. One that enables barnacles to obtain food from either water or air

• This adaptation would be useful in environments where barnacles need to switch between obtaining food from water and air. However, barnacles primarily feed by filtering plankton from the water, and they do not obtain food from the air. Therefore, this adaptation is not relevant to their survival in the high tide zone.

B. One that helps barnacles survive short periods of exposure to air

• This is the best evidence to support Malik's argument. In the high tide zone, barnacles are exposed to air during low tide and submerged during high tide. An adaptation that allows them to survive these periods of exposure to air would be crucial for their survival in this zone.

C. One that enables barnacles to move quickly to escape predators

• Barnacles are sessile organisms, meaning they are fixed in one place and do not move. Therefore, an adaptation for quick movement to escape predators is not relevant to their survival in the high tide zone.

D. One that helps barnacles withstand the heavy pounding of waves

• While this adaptation would be beneficial for barnacles living in areas with strong wave action, it does not specifically address the challenge of surviving in the high tide zone, where exposure to air is a more critical factor.

Summary: The best adaptation to support Malik's argument is one that helps barnacles survive short periods of exposure to air, as this is a key challenge for barnacles living in the high tide zone.