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Question

Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

The following is an excerpt from a passage about a major zoological discovery.

[1]
In December 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer was working in South Africa. While inspecting the catch of a local fishing trawler, a strange, blue-finned fish caught her eye. It possessed unusual, fleshy lobed fins that resembled limbs—a primitive anatomical feature. This specimen was later identified as a coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to have gone extinct 66 million years ago. Its discovery revolutionized modern paleontology by proving that ancient lineages could survive virtually unchanged in the deep ocean.

Which choice most effectively introduces the topic of the passage and establishes its central focus?

  1. A
    In December 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer was working in South Africa.
  2. The discovery of a living coelacanth in 1938 shocked the scientific world, redefining our understanding of evolutionary history.Answer
  3. C
    Because a local museum curator in South Africa was interested in marine life.
  4. D
    Although she was just examining a routine catch of fish; Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer found a living fossil.

Answer

The choice that states 'The discovery of a living coelacanth in 1938 shocked the scientific world, redefining our understanding of evolutionary history.'
The correct choice effectively introduces the passage's primary topic (the coelacanth) and its significance (shocking the scientific world and redefining evolutionary history). It transitions smoothly into the subsequent sentences, which describe the details of the 1938 discovery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to identify the main topic and purpose.
The passage discusses the discovery of the coelacanth in 1938 and how this 'living fossil' changed the scientific understanding of evolutionary history.
An effective introduction must establish this specific focus rather than general biographical details.
2
Evaluate the original sentence and the alternative choices for relevance and focus.
The original sentence is too broad. The correct choice directly introduces the coelacanth and its evolutionary significance.
This matches the rhetorical goal of establishing the introduction and thesis statement.
3
Check the remaining options for grammatical correctness.
The option beginning with 'Because' is a fragment. The option using a semicolon after 'Although' incorrectly separates a dependent clause from an independent clause.
Grammatical errors make these choices automatically incorrect regardless of their content.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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