# PTE Reading MCS #15: Soviet Fox Domestication...

Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer #15 - Level 3 - Feeds Reading

> Read the text and answer the question by choosing one option. Only one answer is correct.

A domesticated silver fox is a form of melanocytic, domesticated red fox. In 1959 the Soviet Union set up the fox selective breeding project, aimed at artificially breeding tamer, more dog-like foxes for the fur trade. By selecting and breeding the tamest foxes over successive generations, soviet scientists eventually succeeded in breeding foxes of similar tameness to domestic dogs. These foxes retained many juvenile traits similar to today's domestic dogs and showed dog-like behavior such as whining, barking, and submissiveness. However, an unexpected side effect of the breeding program included patterned and patchy coats similar to various breeds of dogs, thus making them unsuitable for the fur industry. Academically, this experiment has provided valuable insights into how wolves may have become domesticated during the Neolithic period to form today's domestic dogs. Today, domesticated silver foxes are sold as exotic pets in order to continue domestic fox research.

Why are some foxes not suitable for the fur industry?

- Because they are not tame enough.
- Because they are not as tame as domestic dogs.
- Because they retained some juvenile traits.
- Because they have unexpected side effects.

## Answer

Because they have unexpected side effects.

## Explanation

The text explicitly states that the unexpected physical changes, specifically the patchy and patterned coats, made the foxes undesirable for the fur industry.

What to watch: The text says "an unexpected side effect" was "patterned and patchy coats," which made them unfit for the fur industry. The juvenile traits option is true but is not the reason given. The two tameness options reverse the text, which says the foxes became as tame as dogs.

## Hints

- Look for the sentence that mentions the fur industry near the end of the second half of the passage.
- The text mentions that the foxes were bred for tameness, but a specific physical result made them unsuitable for their original purpose.

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