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Difficulty: EasyRhetorical Structure and Sentence Function

While early botanists viewed plant responses to pest attacks as mere passive physiological reactions, recent ecological studies indicate that flora actively emit volatile organic compounds to signal neighboring plants of impending threats. To test this phenomenon in controlled environments, researchers synthesized synthetic compounds mimicking plant distress signals and exposed healthy crops to them. Remarkably, the uninjured crops responded by preemptively synthesizing defensive enzymes. This finding strongly supports the hypothesis that plants communicate through chemical signaling, though further field trials are necessary to verify whether such interactions occur with equal efficacy in complex, unmonitored ecosystems.

Which of the following best describes the primary rhetorical function of the sentence beginning with 'Remarkably'?

  1. It describes an empirical finding that serves as evidence supporting the hypothesis being tested.Answer
  2. B
    It presents a counterargument intended to refute the early botanists' traditional perspective.
  3. C
    It summarizes the ultimate conclusion established by both laboratory tests and natural field observations.
  4. D
    It demonstrates conclusively that chemical communication functions with equal efficacy across all natural habitats.
  5. E
    It qualifies the author's primary hypothesis by pointing out a flaw in the researchers' initial setup.

Answer

The sentence describes an empirical finding that serves as evidence supporting the hypothesis being tested.
The sentence starting with 'Remarkably' reports the observed outcome of the researchers' experiment—namely, that uninjured crops responded to distress signals by producing defensive enzymes. In the broader rhetorical structure of the passage, this observed outcome serves as empirical evidence supporting the idea that plants communicate via chemical signals.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context surrounding the target sentence.
The preceding sentence outlines an experimental setup (exposing healthy crops to synthetic signals). The target sentence reports what happened next (uninjured crops responded by producing enzymes).
Understanding the surrounding context clarifies how the target sentence relates to the passage's argument structure.
2
Determine the functional role of the target sentence.
The observation that uninjured crops responded demonstrates a concrete experimental result, providing empirical backing for the communication hypothesis mentioned in the subsequent sentence.
Identifying what role the sentence plays within the argument chain is key to choosing the correct description.

Key Concept

Identifying sentence function and evidence structure within an argument.
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Topics

Rhetorical Structure and Sentence Function

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