During his travels to Egypt in 459 BC, the Greek historian Herodotus recorded an amazing story about the relationship between a small but brave bird and a fearsome crocodile. According to local reports, when the crocodile rested on land with its mouth open, the opportunistic Egyptian Plover ate the food stuck between the reptile’s razor-sharp teeth. In this symbiotic and therefore RECIPROCAL relationship, the crocodile received a thorough cleaning of its teeth, while the Plover enjoyed a nutritious meal.
Herodotus would be amazed to learn that SAT writers recently used his story to illustrate the word RECIPROCAL The story does provide a vivid and memorable illustration of RECIPROCAL. However, SAT test writers neglected to note that the supposed relationship between the Egyptian Plover and the Nile crocodile has never been documented by video or photographic evidence. Even so, it is a rare example of an unforgettable SAT question!
RECIPROCAL - an exchange where both parties benefit from a mutually advantageous relationship