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Difficulty: HardSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

Originating in Japan, *yakisugi* is a traditional method of wood preservation that involves charring the surface of cedar boards to make them resistant to fire, rot, and insects. The process begins by binding three boards into a triangular chimney, lighting the interior, and allowing the flames to rapidly carbonize the wood. This superficial burning creates a thick layer of carbonized cellulose, which acts as a natural barrier. Ultimately, the charred layer protects the underlying timber from environmental degradation, ensuring its longevity for decades.

The writer wants to revise the underlined portion of the sentence below to provide the most specific, concrete visual details that illustrate the physical appearance of the carbonized surface:

"This superficial burning creates a thick layer of carbonized cellulose, which acts as a natural barrier."

Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

  1. A
    a thick layer of carbonized cellulose, which acts as a natural barrier.
  2. B
    a layer of carbonized cellulose; which creates a dark, flaky coating that acts as a natural barrier.
  3. a silvery-black, cracked texture resembling alligator hide that repels moisture and prevents insect infestations.Answer
  4. D
    a protective outer layer, this carbonized coating blocked moisture and decay.

Answer

The choice that describes the surface as 'a silvery-black, cracked texture resembling alligator hide' is correct because it provides the most specific and concrete visual details while maintaining grammatical correctness.
The correct choice successfully answers the prompt by replacing general terms with specific, visually descriptive details ('silvery-black', 'cracked texture resembling alligator hide') that allow the reader to visualize the carbonized surface of the wood. It also maintains grammatical correctness and tense consistency with the rest of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the writer's goal from the prompt.
The goal is to find the option that provides the most specific, concrete visual details illustrating the physical appearance of the carbonized wood surface.
This establishes the criteria for evaluating the choices.
2
Analyze each option for grammatical correctness.
The option containing a semicolon before 'which' creates a fragment, and the option with the past-tense verb 'blocked' introduces an incorrect tense shift and a comma splice. The remaining options are grammatically correct.
Eliminating grammatically incorrect options narrows the choices to valid sentences.
3
Compare the remaining grammatically correct options against the rhetorical goal.
The original phrasing uses general, abstract concepts, whereas the correct option uses specific visual terms.
The correct answer must satisfy the specific demand for visual details.

Key Concept

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details
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Topics

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details

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