Selective Breeding read works

How can the author's view of selective breeding best be described? Use information from the text to support your answer.

: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage. Students may argue that yes, selective breeding should be continued because of the positive benefits it has for mankind, including tame dogs as pets and an increased food supply. Students may also argue that no, selective breeding should not be continued because of the negative effects it has on animals in industrial farms, as it interferes with natural animal processes. Students may also argue that selective breeding should be continued, but in a limited way that does not cause harm to the animals being bred.

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Temple Grandin, an animal welfare advocate, notes that breeding animals for size and strength interferes with natural animal processes. ______________, breeding roosters for muscle can make them top-heavy and unsteady on their feet, interfering with their courtship dances.

For example

The author includes examples of broiler chickens whose legs can't support their bodies and dairy cows that burn out quickly. How do these examples support the author's statement that "selective breeding comes with both benefits and drawbacks"?

These examples highlight the drawbacks.

What does the text describe?

different examples of selective breeding and the impact of selective breeding on some animals

The text explains that selective breeding involves breeding animals or plants for specific desirable traits. For example, humans bred different types of dogs to accomplish certain jobs. Farmers breed chickens for having more meat and laying a greater amount of eggs. Cattle are often selectively bred either for more meat or for more milk production. The text also notes that breeding animals for size and strength interferes with natural animal processes.

humans breeding the animals

According to the text, what is artificial selection most often called?

selective breeding

Give an example of a negative effect of selective breeding. Answer

shortened life spans of dairy cows • roosters bred for muscle are top-heavy and cannot properly perform courtship dances • chickens bred for large breasts cannot support the extra weight on their skinny legs • chickens bred to lay more eggs have brittle bones since the eggs soak up the hens' calcium supply • animals that are not profitable (such as male chicks) are killed

What is this passage mostly about?

the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding

Give an example of a positive effect of selective breeding.

the tame dogs we have as pets and companions • increased supply of milk and meat from cows • increased supply of eggs and meat from chickens • increased supply of meat from pigs

Read the following sentence: "Even though people selectively breed to yield animals with desired traits, there are dangers to selective breeding." What does "yield" mean as used in the text?

to produce