During a Field Trip, an Instructor Touched a Moth Resting

question 66

Multiple Choice

During a field trip, an instructor touched a moth resting on a tree trunk. The moth raised its forewings to reveal large eyespots on its hind wings. The instructor asked why the moth lifted its wings. One student answered that sensory receptors had fired and triggered a neuronal reflex culminating in the contraction of certain muscles. A second student responded that the behavior might frighten predators. Which statement best describes these explanations?

• A) The first explanation is correct, but the second is incorrect.
• B) The first explanation refers to proximate causation, whereas the second refers to ultimate causation.
• C) The first explanation is testable as a scientific hypothesis, whereas the second is not.
• D) Both explanations are reasonable and simply represent a difference of opinion.

---

Definitions:

Leadership Ethics

The principles and values guiding leaders in making decisions that have moral implications for their teams and organizations.

Ronald Heifetz

is a leadership expert known for his work on adaptive leadership, emphasizing the importance of leaders encouraging adaptability and learning in organizations to address complex challenges.

Care-Based Thinking

An approach that emphasizes empathy, compassion, and the well-being of others in decision-making processes.

Rushworth Kidder

was an American author and ethics consultant known for his work on moral courage and ethical dilemmas in modern life.