For decades after the Tudor warship *Mary Rose* was raised from the Solent in 1982, conservators kept the wooden hull constantly saturated with a chilled freshwater mist to prevent it from drying out and collapsing. Eventually, they began actively replacing the water in the wood cells with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a water-soluble polymer.
Given that all the choices are true, which choice most clearly highlights the transition from temporary preservation methods to a permanent, structural stabilization technique while emphasizing the scientific complexity of the process?
- By slowly increasing the concentration of the polymer over decades, conservators successfully infused the timber's cell walls to structurally reinforce the decaying wood, allowing the misting sprays to finally be turned off.Answer
- BThe polymer was applied in a brand-new, climate-controlled museum facility that was custom-built to house the ship and display its artifacts to the public.
- CThis chemical treatment was far superior to the simple water sprays, which had only served as a temporary measure until the ship could safely dry out.
- DConservators slowly increased the polymer's concentration over decades, this chemical process displaced the water inside the wood cells to prevent collapse.
Answer
The correct option is the one stating that by slowly increasing the concentration of the polymer over decades, conservators infused the cell walls to structurally reinforce the decaying wood, allowing the misting sprays to be turned off.
The correct choice successfully establishes the transition from temporary preservation (misting sprays) to a permanent structural stabilization technique (infusing the cell walls to structurally reinforce the decaying wood) and highlights the scientific complexity (slowly increasing the polymer's concentration over decades).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Meeting Specific Rhetorical Goals