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Difficulty: MediumSentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

[1] In 1964, radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were using the Holmdel Horn Antenna in New Jersey to detect weak radio waves from the spaces between galaxies. [2] To their frustration, they kept detecting a persistent, low-frequency hum that came from all directions in the sky, day and night. [3] They thoroughly cleaned the antenna, even removing a pair of pigeons that had nested inside the horn and scrubbing away the birds' nesting debris. [4] Despite their efforts, the mysterious static remained. [5] Pigeons are common in suburban New Jersey and are known for their strong homing instincts. [6] Penzias and Wilson eventually realized that this static was not local interference at all, but rather the cosmic microwave background radiation—the ancient echo of the Big Bang.

The writer is considering deleting Sentence 5 from the paragraph. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?

  1. A
    Kept, because it explains why Penzias and Wilson were initially unable to detect weak radio waves from space.
  2. Deleted, because it interrupts the focus of the paragraph on Penzias and Wilson's scientific discovery with irrelevant information about pigeons.Answer
  3. C
    Kept, because it provides essential background information that establishes the scientific setting of suburban New Jersey.
  4. D
    Deleted, because it contradicts the earlier statement that Penzias and Wilson successfully cleaned the horn antenna.

Answer

The sentence should be deleted because it interrupts the focus of the paragraph on Penzias and Wilson's scientific discovery with irrelevant information about pigeons.
The sentence should be deleted because it interrupts the focus of the paragraph on the scientific discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation with irrelevant details about the behavior of pigeons. While the previous sentence mentions removing pigeons to troubleshoot the antenna, the homing instincts of pigeons are not relevant to the scientists' breakthrough.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main topic and focus of the paragraph.
The paragraph describes Penzias and Wilson trying to eliminate antenna static, which they eventually realize is the cosmic microwave background radiation.
Understanding the paragraph's main focus helps determine whether Sentence 5 contributes to or interrupts that focus.
2
Analyze the specific content and function of Sentence 5.
Sentence 5 provides a detail about the prevalence and homing instincts of pigeons in suburban New Jersey.
This allows us to evaluate if this detail supports the main narrative of the discovery or represents a digression.
3
Determine if Sentence 5 should be kept or deleted, and select the option with the correct reasoning.
The sentence should be deleted because it is irrelevant to the scientific discovery. The option stating that it interrupts the paragraph's focus with irrelevant information about pigeons is the correct choice.
Aligning the correct decision (delete) with the logical, text-dependent justification ensures the overall cohesion of the passage.

Key Concept

Sentence Addition and Deletion Decisions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Sentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

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