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Difficulty: MediumSelecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

Marie Tharp began transforming raw sonar data collected from the Atlantic Ocean into detailed topographic maps in the early 1950s. At the time, she was barred from research vessels due to her gender, so she relied on her colleague Bruce Heezen to gather the depth measurements. As Tharp meticulously plotted the points, she noticed a massive, V-shaped rift running down the center of the ocean floor. Heezen initially dismissed her findings as 'girl talk,' but Tharp persisted, convinced that this feature was a rift valley that proved the theory of continental drift.

Ultimately, Heezen was convinced after he mapped the epicenters of undersea earthquakes, which aligned perfectly with Tharp's rift valley. [1] Furthermore, they decided to publish a map of their findings in 1977.

Which choice most effectively concludes the passage by highlighting the ultimate success of Tharp's research and its impact on the scientific understanding of Earth's geology?

  1. A
    Furthermore, they decided to publish a map of their findings in 1977.
  2. Their final, collaborative map of the ocean floor provided the first comprehensive visual evidence of plate tectonics, permanently transforming the field of oceanography.Answer
  3. C
    In contrast, their final map of the ocean floor provided the first comprehensive visual evidence of plate tectonics.
  4. D
    Their completed map was published in 1977, it became a cornerstone of modern Earth science and proved her initial theories correct.

Answer

Their final, collaborative map of the ocean floor provided the first comprehensive visual evidence of plate tectonics, permanently transforming the field of oceanography.
The correct option effectively concludes the passage by linking Tharp's mapping work to the validation of plate tectonics and highlighting its lasting impact on the field of oceanography. It aligns with the chronological progress of the passage and maintains a formal, objective tone without introducing irrelevant external details.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to identify the main thesis and the rhetorical goal of the concluding sentence.
The passage details Marie Tharp's persistent work mapping the ocean floor, which eventually convinced her colleague of the rift valley's existence. The goal is to highlight the ultimate success of her research and its impact on Earth's geology.
Understanding the context and specific prompt instructions is necessary to determine what information the concluding sentence must convey.
2
Evaluate each option for logical alignment with the thesis and compliance with grammatical rules.
The correct option connects the map to plate tectonics (scientific impact) without introducing unsupported details or grammatical errors. Other options introduce irrelevant details, contain a comma splice, or use illogical transitions.
This narrows down the choices to the one that satisfies both the rhetorical goal and grammatical correctness.

Key Concept

Selecting concluding sentences that summarize main ideas and emphasize their significance.
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Topics

Selecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

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