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Question

Difficulty: MediumStylistic Appropriateness

In 1938, museum curator Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer was examining the catch of a local fisherman in South Africa when a brilliant blue fish caught her eye. This creature was later identified as a coelacanth, a prehistoric fish thought to have gone extinct over 66 million years ago. Scientists were absolutely blown away by the discovery, which fundamentally challenged their understanding of vertebrate evolution. The coelacanth, often referred to as a 'living fossil,' possesses lobed fins that resemble the limbs of land-dwelling vertebrates, providing a crucial link in the evolutionary transition from water to land.

Which of the following choices best maintains the established tone and style of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    experienced profound stupefaction upon learning of
  3. were astonished byAnswer
  4. D
    were filled with a sudden sense of surprise and disbelief when they heard about

Answer

were astonished by
The correct option is 'were astonished by' because it is concise, grammatically correct, and matches the objective, academic tone established throughout the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the underlined portion in the passage to identify the established tone.
The passage discusses a scientific and historical event (the discovery of the coelacanth) using standard academic, informative, and objective language.
Determining the tone of the surrounding text helps identify which level of formality is appropriate.
2
Evaluate the underlined phrase 'were absolutely blown away by' for appropriateness.
The original phrase is colloquial slang and is too informal for a scientific text.
This confirms that a change is needed, ruling out the original phrasing.
3
Assess the remaining options to find the one that is grammatically correct, concise, and maintains the established scientific tone.
The option stating 'experienced profound stupefaction upon learning of' is overly flowery and pretentious. The option stating 'were filled with a sudden sense of surprise and disbelief when they heard about' is wordy and redundant. The option stating 'were astonished by' is concise, direct, and matches the formal but accessible tone of the passage.
Selecting the option that balances appropriate tone and conciseness yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Stylistic Appropriateness
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Topics

Stylistic Appropriateness

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