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Difficulty: MediumEvaluating Relevance for Adding or Deleting Content

A writer is editing a draft of an essay about the discovery of the coelacanth.

In 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, a South African museum curator, discovered an unusual fish among the catch of a local trawler. Recognizing its unique features—including lobed fins that resembled limbs—she contacted ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith to help identify it. Smith recognized the specimen as a coelacanth, a member of a lineage believed to have gone extinct 66 million years ago. [1] Prior to this discovery, scientists had only studied the prehistoric fish through fossilized remains. The find, often referred to as the 'living fossil' discovery, completely reshaped scientific understanding of vertebrate evolution.

At this point, the writer is considering adding the following true statement:

Fossils are formed when organic material is slowly replaced by minerals over millions of years.

Should the writer make this addition at point [1]?

  1. A
    Yes, because it provides necessary scientific context explaining how coelacanth fossils were formed.
  2. B
    Yes, because it supports the paragraph's focus on the methods scientists used to study the coelacanth before 1938.
  3. No, because it interrupts the focus of the paragraph by introducing a general definition of fossilization that is tangential to the discovery of the coelacanth.Answer
  4. D
    No, because it contradicts the paragraph's assertion that the coelacanth was a living fossil.

Answer

No, because it interrupts the focus of the paragraph by introducing a general definition of fossilization that is tangential to the discovery of the coelacanth.
The correct option correctly identifies that the proposed sentence should not be added because it introduces a general definition of fossilization, which is tangential to the paragraph's focus on the narrative of the 1938 coelacanth discovery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main focus of the paragraph.
The paragraph describes the narrative of Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer's 1938 discovery of a live coelacanth and the significance of this discovery for science.
Understanding the paragraph's primary topic is necessary to evaluate if the proposed sentence is relevant.
2
Evaluate the relevance of the proposed sentence.
The proposed sentence defines how fossils are formed over millions of years. This is a general geological concept that is not directly related to the story of the 1938 discovery.
This step determines whether the sentence adds meaningful information that aligns with the established topic.
3
Formulate the decision and choose the option with the correct reasoning.
The sentence should not be added because it is tangential and interrupts the narrative flow. The option stating that it interrupts the paragraph by introducing a general definition of fossilization is the correct choice.
This step matches the analysis to the correct decision and logical justification among the choices.

Key Concept

Evaluating Relevance for Adding or Deleting Content
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Evaluating Relevance for Adding or Deleting Content

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