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Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

[1]
For decades, marine biologists assumed that the coelacanth, a prehistoric fish with limb-like lobed fins, had gone extinct approximately 66 million years ago. However, in 1938, a museum curator named Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer discovered one among a local fisherman's catch in South Africa. This astonishing find shocked the scientific community, proving that these ancient creatures were still swimming in the deep ocean.

[2]
__________________________________________________ Before this discovery, scientists could only study the coelacanth through fossilized remains. Courtenay-Latimer's finding allowed researchers to examine a living specimen, leading to groundbreaking insights into the evolutionary transition from fish to tetrapods. Today, the coelacanth remains a living testament to the mysteries that still lie hidden in the ocean depths.

Which of the following sentences, if added at the beginning of Paragraph 2, would provide the most effective introduction and transition to the paragraph's discussion of the discovery's scientific impact?

  1. The discovery of this living fossil fundamentally altered our understanding of vertebrate evolution.Answer
  2. B
    Scientists had previously studied the fish only through fossils, the 1938 discovery changed everything.
  3. C
    Because scientists had only fossilized remains to study before Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer made her incredible find.
  4. D
    Consequently, the coelacanth was a very popular fish among local fishermen in South Africa.

Answer

The sentence stating that the discovery of the living fossil fundamentally altered our understanding of vertebrate evolution is the most effective introduction and transition.
The correct option effectively introduces Paragraph 2 by establishing its focus on the scientific and evolutionary significance of the coelacanth discovery. It also transitions smoothly to the next sentence, which mentions that scientists could previously only study the fish through fossils.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the focus of Paragraph 2.
The paragraph discusses how studying the living coelacanth provided insights into vertebrate evolution and the transition from fish to tetrapods, contrasting this with the limited information previously available from fossils.
An effective introduction and transition must prepare the reader for the paragraph's specific focus on scientific impact and evolution.
2
Evaluate the grammatical correctness and rhetorical fit of the choices.
One choice is a fragment starting with 'Because', another contains a comma splice, and a third focuses on the popularity of the fish among fishermen, which is off-topic. The correct choice is grammatically sound and introduces the evolutionary focus.
Eliminating options with grammatical errors and those that fail to address the paragraph's rhetorical goal narrows down the choices.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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