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Question

Difficulty: MediumDetermining Stated Sequence of Events

Read the following passage carefully:

Before oceanographer Dr. Clara Mercer published her definitive findings on deep-sea thermal vents in 1938, her research trajectory was reshaped by a series of pivotal field trials. In 1931, while testing an early bathysphere off the coast of Bermuda, Mercer recorded anomalous acoustic pulses emanating from the seabed. However, it was not until three years after this discovery that she secured funding to build the specialized pressure-resistant hydrophones needed for a deeper expedition. Prior to securing that funding in 1934, Mercer spent eighteen months analyzing acoustic wave propagation data collected during her 1929 shallow-water surveys in the North Atlantic. Immediately following the successful deployment of the new hydrophones in late 1935, Mercer’s team mapped the hydrothermal plume system that would ultimately form the foundation of her 1938 monograph.

Based on the passage, which of the following events occurred FIRST chronologically?

  1. Collecting acoustic wave propagation data during shallow-water surveys in the North AtlanticAnswer
  2. B
    Recording anomalous acoustic pulses while testing an early bathysphere off Bermuda
  3. C
    Securing funding to build specialized pressure-resistant hydrophones
  4. D
    Mapping the hydrothermal plume system using newly deployed hydrophones

Answer

Collecting acoustic wave propagation data during shallow-water surveys in the North Atlantic
The passage explicitly places the shallow-water surveys in the North Atlantic in 1929. Even though this detail appears near the middle of the paragraph, 1929 is chronologically prior to the 1931 bathysphere test, the 1934 funding acquisition, the 1935 plume mapping, and the 1938 monograph publication.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Extract all stated events and their corresponding years from the text
1929: Shallow-water surveys in the North Atlantic; 1931: Bathysphere testing off Bermuda; 1934: Securing hydrophone funding; 1935: Deployment of hydrophones and mapping of hydrothermal plume system; 1938: Publication of findings.
The passage uses a non-linear narrative sequence, requiring systematic extraction of explicit temporal markers.
2
Order the extracted events chronologically from earliest to latest
The timeline is 1929 -> 1931 -> 1934 -> 1935 -> 1938.
Establishes the true temporal progression of Mercer's research milestones.
3
Match the earliest date to the corresponding option
The collection of acoustic wave propagation data occurred in 1929, making it the first event chronologically.
Identifies the correct answer supported directly by the passage.

Key Concept

Determining Stated Sequence of Events
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Determining Stated Sequence of Events

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