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Question

Difficulty: MediumDetermining Stated Sequence of Events

Read the following passage carefully:

Long before paleontologist Hermann von Meyer formally named the fossil Archaeopteryx in 1861, quarry workers in Solnhofen, Germany, had unearthed an isolated feather impression in limestone during the summer of 1860. Intrigued by the specimen's unique structural features, von Meyer examined the feather impression in early 1861 and published a preliminary description. Months later, in late 1861, a near-complete fossilized skeleton exhibiting both avian feathers and reptilian skeletal structures was discovered in a neighboring quarry. Before London's Natural History Museum acquired this complete specimen in 1862, physician Karl Häberlein temporarily stored the skeleton in his medical clinic while negotiating its sale.

Based on the passage, place the following events in chronological order from earliest to latest:

  1. 1Quarry workers unearth an isolated feather impression in Solnhofen limestone.
  2. 2Hermann von Meyer publishes a preliminary description of the isolated feather impression.
  3. 3A near-complete skeleton displaying both avian and reptilian traits is found in a neighboring quarry.
  4. 4Physician Karl Häberlein temporarily stores the skeleton in his clinic while negotiating its sale.

Answer

The correct chronological sequence is: (1) Quarry workers unearth an isolated feather impression in Solnhofen limestone, (2) Hermann von Meyer publishes a preliminary description of the isolated feather impression, (3) A near-complete skeleton displaying both avian and reptilian traits is found in a neighboring quarry, and (4) Physician Karl Häberlein temporarily stores the skeleton in his clinic while negotiating its sale.
The passage presents an explicit chronological progression of events: the unearthing of the isolated feather in summer 1860 occurs first, followed by Hermann von Meyer's preliminary description in early 1861, followed by the discovery of the near-complete skeleton in late 1861, and finally the temporary storage of the skeleton in Karl Häberlein's clinic prior to the 1862 acquisition by London's Natural History Museum.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the earliest event mentioned in the timeline from the passage text.
The text states that quarry workers found an isolated feather impression in the summer of 1860, making this the earliest event.
Establishing the initial anchor date (summer 1860) sets the baseline for the sequence.
2
Trace the subsequent events following the initial 1860 discovery.
In early 1861, Hermann von Meyer examined the feather and published a preliminary description.
The text explicitly connects von Meyer's early 1861 publication to his analysis of the 1860 feather.
3
Locate the discovery of the complete skeleton relative to the preliminary publication.
Months after von Meyer's publication, in late 1861, the near-complete fossilized skeleton was discovered in a neighboring quarry.
The temporal phrase 'late 1861' places the skeleton discovery after the early 1861 publication.
4
Determine the final event prior to the museum acquisition.
Before London's Natural History Museum acquired the specimen in 1862, Karl Häberlein stored the skeleton in his clinic.
Storage in the clinic occurred between the late 1861 skeleton discovery and the 1862 museum acquisition.

Key Concept

Literal comprehension of stated sequence of events using chronological markers and explicit dates.
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Topics

Determining Stated Sequence of Events

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