Question

Difficulty: MediumSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

[1] In 1766, Jeanne Baret embarked on a global voyage disguised as a male assistant to the naturalist Philibert Commerson. [2] Because Commerson suffered from poor health, Baret had to perform much of the physical labor under demanding conditions. [3] During their stops in South America, she carried heavy equipment while collecting plants. [4] In Brazil, her tireless efforts led to the discovery of a vibrant climbing vine that Commerson named *Bougainvillea* in honor of their expedition commander.

Which of the following choices, if substituted for the bolded portion of Sentence 3, best supports the claim that Baret performed demanding physical labor by providing the most specific, concrete visual details?

  1. A
    took over Commerson's duties when his health failed, allowing him to rest in his cabin
  2. carried massive wooden presses and iron trowels up the steep, muddy slopes of the AndesAnswer
  3. C
    carried the heavy wooden presses; as they climbed through the wet rainforest
  4. D
    performed difficult physical tasks outdoors and carried all of their heavy botanical gear

Answer

The choice that describes Baret carrying massive wooden presses and iron trowels up the steep, muddy slopes of the Andes.
The option describing Baret carrying wooden presses and iron trowels up the steep, muddy slopes of the Andes is correct because it provides the most specific, concrete visual details of her physical labor. It names the exact tools she carried and describes the specific terrain she traversed, directly supporting the claim about her demanding physical labor.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prompt to identify the specific rhetorical goal.
The prompt asks for the choice that provides the most specific, concrete visual details of Baret's physical labor.
Understanding the precise goal prevents choosing options that are grammatically correct but rhetorically weak.
2
Evaluate each option for grammatical correctness.
The option containing a semicolon before a dependent clause is eliminated due to a sentence fragment error.
Eliminating grammatically incorrect choices narrows down the potential answers.
3
Compare the remaining grammatically correct options for visual specificity.
The option mentioning wooden presses, iron trowels, and muddy slopes of the Andes is selected over vague descriptions or unrelated details.
Specific nouns and descriptive adjectives satisfy the prompt's request for concrete visual details.

Key Concept

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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