Question

Difficulty: MediumDetermining Paragraph-Level Main Ideas

The following passage is adapted from an article about deep-sea oceanography.

Paragraph 1 (lines 1-10)
In 1977, oceanographers aboard the research vessel Alvin made a baffling discovery along the Galapagos Rift, thousands of meters below the ocean surface. Expecting to find a biological desert due to the complete absence of sunlight and near-freezing temperatures, scientists were instead confronted with a thriving, dense community of previously unknown organisms, including giant tube worms and ghost-like crabs. This startling find shattered the long-held scientific assumption that all complex marine life ultimately depends on solar energy filtered down from the upper layers of the ocean.

Paragraph 2 (lines 11-19)
At the heart of this deep-sea ecosystem lay hydrothermal vents—geological fissures that spew superheated, mineral-rich water from beneath the Earth's crust. As this fluid mixes with the cold seawater, minerals precipitate out, forming chimney-like structures. Oceanographers quickly realized that these vents act as vital heat and chemical conduits, transferring thermal energy from the planet’s mantle into the ocean depths, thereby maintaining localized temperatures that can support life.

Paragraph 3 (lines 20-29)
Subsequent microbiological analysis revealed that the biological engine driving this ecosystem was not photosynthesis, but chemosynthesis. Specialized bacteria, dwelling inside the tissues of the tube worms or forming mats on surrounding rocks, oxidize toxic hydrogen sulfide escaping from the vents. By converting these chemical compounds into organic matter, these microbes form the foundational base of the local food web, proving that life can flourish entirely independent of sunlight.

Match each paragraph from the passage to its primary paragraph-level main idea.

  • Paragraph 1 (lines 1-10)The unexpected discovery of thriving deep-sea life challenged established assumptions about the dependency of all marine ecosystems on sunlight.
  • Paragraph 2 (lines 11-19)Hydrothermal vents function as crucial geological features that regulate local ocean temperatures and supply essential minerals.
  • Paragraph 3 (lines 20-29)Chemosynthesis, driven by specialized bacteria converting toxic compounds into organic matter, serves as the primary energy source for the ecosystem.

Answer

Paragraph 1 matches the statement regarding the discovery of deep-sea life challenging the necessity of sunlight. Paragraph 2 matches the statement regarding hydrothermal vents as geological conduits of heat and minerals. Paragraph 3 matches the statement regarding chemosynthesis as the primary chemical energy source.
The correct pairings accurately match each paragraph's primary focus: Paragraph 1 highlights the historical discovery and its challenge to scientific paradigms; Paragraph 2 defines the geological role of the vents; and Paragraph 3 details the chemical process of chemosynthesis.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Paragraph 1 to identify its main idea.
Paragraph 1 describes the discovery by the research vessel Alvin, showing that finding complex life in the deep ocean disproved the idea that all marine life depends on sunlight.
Understanding the paragraph's core claim allows matching it to the correct summarizing statement.
2
Analyze Paragraph 2 to identify its main idea.
Paragraph 2 explains the physical characteristics of hydrothermal vents and how they act as conduits for heat and mineral transport to support life.
This isolates the geological function from the biological and historical aspects of the other paragraphs.
3
Analyze Paragraph 3 to identify its main idea.
Paragraph 3 focuses on the chemical process of chemosynthesis, explaining how bacteria convert hydrogen sulfide into organic matter.
This matches the remaining option which details the chemical energy source for the ecosystem.

Key Concept

Determining Paragraph-Level Main Ideas
Rate this question