单选题 . ①Octopuses show surprising cognitive abilities: solving mazes, learning cues, and remembering solutions. ②Furthermore, recent studies suggest that octopuses may display the first "personalities" ever measured in an invertebrate: confronted with the same threats and food stimuli, individual octopuses react differently. ③Until recently, such traits were thought to be exclusive to higher vertebrates and to develop primarily among long-lived, social animals. ④Longevity, it was thought, justifies the biological "investment" in big, complex brains. ⑤Why would the short- lived, solitary octopus develop such traits? ⑥Mather postulates that animals that pursue varied food sources in changeable, perilous habitats must develop a wide range of hunting and defensive strategies. ⑦Variation in the temperament of individuals enhances survival in a volatile, competitive milieu by ensuring that different individuals respond differently to changing conditions so some will thrive.1. Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence? ______

A、 It articulates a conjecture central to Mather's theory.
B、 It identifies a trait that is thought to be unique to social species.
C、 It presents evidence that undermines a formerly widely held view.
D、 It explains the logic underlying a view that has recently been challenged.
E、 It points out a crucial distinction between cognitively complex species and other species.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】 D：指出群居动物的特征，这是第③句的功能，而定位句则是解释了第④句观点背后的原理，因此选项D正确。
A、C、E：本题属于功能题，定位句很明显是用于支持前一句的老观点的，因此可以排除选项A、C、E。