Final answer:
The excerpt expresses the complexity and interconnectedness of the animal kingdom, emphasizing similarities amidst diversity and the various roles animals play in human lives, aligning with the idea that some animals are more alike than they seem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt seems to discuss the complex relationship between humans and animals, emphasizing the diversity and interconnectedness of animal life. It suggests that while animals differ greatly from each other and from humans in some ways, they also share many similarities with us and with one another.
This includes the ability to adapt to various environments and to form social structures, which have evolutionary advantages. Given the information provided and the different roles animals play in human societies—as companions, symbols, food sources, and more—it would suggest that option 2) 'Some animals are more alike than they seem' is the closest match to the excerpt's message.