Question

Difficulty: HardSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

A writer is editing a draft of an essay about aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross.

[1] As the first female Native American aerospace engineer, Mary Golda Ross made critical contributions to the early space age during her time at Lockheed's top-secret Skunk Works division. [2] Although her initial assignments focused on improving the aerodynamics of fighter jets, she was soon transitioned to the burgeoning space program. [3] There, Ross was tasked with developing design concepts for interplanetary space travel. [4] To ensure the success of these journeys, she formulated mathematical models detailing the trajectories required to navigate the gravitational fields of multiple celestial bodies.

The writer wants to revise the underlined portion of sentence 3 ('design concepts for interplanetary space travel') to provide the most specific and concrete details that illustrate the technical scope of Ross’s interplanetary design work. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

  1. A
    design concepts for interplanetary space travel.
  2. B
    various plans and ideas for missions that would eventually travel to other planets in our solar system.
  3. trajectory profiles, thermodynamic shielding requirements, and flyby flight paths for missions to Venus and Mars.Answer
  4. D
    important documents for Lockheed, which was rapidly expanding its aerospace research and development facilities at the time.

Answer

The correct choice is the option that replaces the underlined text with 'trajectory profiles, thermodynamic shielding requirements, and flyby flight paths for missions to Venus and Mars.'
The correct option provides specific, concrete technical terms ('trajectory profiles, thermodynamic shielding requirements, and flyby flight paths') that directly illustrate the technical scope and complexity of the interplanetary space travel design work, successfully fulfilling the writer's goal.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the writer's specific rhetorical goal in the prompt.
The goal is to find the option that provides the most specific and concrete details illustrating the technical scope of Ross's interplanetary design work.
Understanding the goal helps filter out options that are grammatically correct but fail to address the prompt's specific requirement.
2
Analyze the options for specificity and relevance to interplanetary design work.
The original text and the option focusing on 'various plans and ideas' are too vague, while the option about Lockheed's facilities is off-topic. The option listing 'trajectory profiles, thermodynamic shielding requirements, and flyby flight paths' provides precise, technical details.
Comparing the options ensures we choose the one that provides concrete visual/technical detail over general statements.
3
Confirm that the selected option is grammatically correct and fits seamlessly into sentence 3.
The selected option fits grammatically and logically within the context of the sentence.
Ensures the revision maintains standard sentence structure and cohesion within the paragraph.

Key Concept

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details
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