[1] For decades, art restorers in Pompeii struggled to clean the delicate frescoes blackened by centuries of soot, volcanic ash, and accumulated wax. [2] Traditional chemical solvents often dissolved the ancient pigments beneath the grime, causing irreversible damage to the vibrant red and yellow depictions of mythological scenes. [3] In recent years, however, conservators have turned to laser cleaning technology, which uses short pulses of light to vaporize the dark encrustations without heating or altering the underlying paint. [4] This precise method allows the frescoes to be restored to their original brilliance, revealing details that had been obscured since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. [5] Lasers have also become increasingly popular in dermatological clinics for removing unwanted tattoos and scars.
The writer is considering deleting Sentence 5 from the passage. Should this sentence be deleted?
- Yes, because it introduces a topic—medical applications of lasers—that is irrelevant to the paragraph's focus on the restoration of ancient Pompeian frescoes.Answer
- BYes, because it contradicts the explanation in Sentence 3 of how lasers vaporize grime without causing damage.
- CNo, because it provides key context about the broad range of uses for laser cleaning in various scientific fields.
- DNo, because it helps explain the technological transition from traditional chemical solvents to modern laser systems.