Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSelecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

[1] In the early nineteenth century, Mary Anning patrolled the crumbling cliffs of Lyme Regis, England, uncovering fossils that would challenge established scientific doctrines about the history of the Earth. Despite her lack of formal education, Anning possessed an extraordinary talent for locating and excavating specimens. Her discoveries, which included the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton and a nearly complete plesiosaur, provided crucial evidence for the emerging theory of extinction.

[2] At the time, many scientists believed that species did not go extinct, arguing that all creatures created by God must still exist somewhere on the globe. Anning's fossils, however, depicted bizarre, ancient marine reptiles that resembled no living animals. Her work forced the scientific community to acknowledge that the prehistoric world was vastly different from the modern one. _________

The writer wants to conclude the passage with a sentence that emphasizes the historical significance of Anning’s discoveries and ties back to the main idea of the passage. Which of the following choices best accomplishes this goal?

  1. Ultimately, these discoveries helped lay the groundwork for modern paleontology, transforming how scientists understood the history of life on Earth.Answer
  2. B
    In later years, Anning opened a small fossil shop to support her family, which became popular among tourists visiting the coast.
  3. C
    Consequently, her findings redefined the field of geology, today's scientists still study the Lyme Regis cliffs.
  4. D
    Furthermore, as she continued her work, she discovers even more fossils that cemented her reputation.

Answer

Ultimately, these discoveries helped lay the groundwork for modern paleontology, transforming how scientists understood the history of life on Earth.
The correct option is the one stating that these discoveries helped lay the groundwork for modern paleontology. This sentence directly reinforces the passage's main thesis, which centers on how Mary Anning's fossil discoveries challenged traditional scientific views and reshaped human understanding of Earth's history. It achieves this while remaining grammatically correct and avoiding the introduction of new, off-topic details.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the writing goal specified in the prompt.
The sentence must emphasize the historical significance of Anning's discoveries and tie back to the main idea of the passage (how her fossils challenged established doctrines).
Understanding the goal helps filter out options that focus on minor or unrelated details.
2
Evaluate each option for relevance, focus, and grammatical correctness.
The sentence about laying the groundwork for paleontology fits the focus perfectly. The option about the shop introduces unrelated details. The option about geology contains a comma splice. The option with 'discovers' has a tense shift.
Ensuring the chosen sentence is both rhetorically effective and grammatically correct.
3
Confirm the most effective concluding sentence.
The sentence stating that these discoveries helped lay the groundwork for modern paleontology is correct because it directly addresses the scientific impact without any grammatical errors.
This satisfies both the thematic and grammatical constraints of the question.

Key Concept

Selecting effective concluding sentences that align with the passage's main thesis and maintain grammatical consistency.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Selecting Concluding Sentences and Transitions

More questions from this topic