In the early 1800s, cats that European people had brought to Australia escaped into the wild. Cats have very few natural predators in Australia. Cats are excellent hunters of small animals and birds, with greater skill in hunting than animals native to Australia. Given this information, how might cats have affected the native species of Australia? A Cats probably did not affect native species. The presence of cats forced native animals to adapt and change.
B Cats probably harmed native species. Cats may have hunted some species to extinction.
C Cats probably helped native species. Cats increased biodiversity on the continent, which is important in an ecosystem.
D It is not possible to determine how cats affected the native species of Australia.