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Difficulty: MediumPrimary Purpose of the Whole Text

In 1867, Swiss botanist Simon Schwendener proposed a revolutionary hypothesis: lichens, long classified as individual plants, were actually composite organisms consisting of a fungus and an alga. This "dual hypothesis" initially met with fierce resistance from contemporary lichenologists who viewed the relationship as parasitic, with the fungus holding the alga captive. Over the next few decades, however, research demonstrated that both partners benefit—the fungus provides structural support and absorbs minerals, while the alga generates nutrients through photosynthesis. This paradigm shift transformed scientific understanding of symbiotic relationships, prompting biologists to recognize mutualism as a fundamental ecological force rather than a biological anomaly.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A
    To argue that most symbiotic relationships in nature have been incorrectly classified as parasitic.
  2. B
    To detail the specific physiological processes by which algae produce nutrients through photosynthesis.
  3. To trace the shift in scientific perspective on lichens from a contested hypothesis to a model for understanding ecological mutualism.Answer
  4. D
    To defend nineteenth-century lichenologists who argued that Swiss botanist Simon Schwendener's methods were flawed.

Answer

To trace the shift in scientific perspective on lichens from a contested hypothesis to a model for understanding ecological mutualism.
The correct answer accurately captures the full scope of the passage, which outlines Schwendener's 1867 dual hypothesis, the resistance it faced, the research that subsequently supported it, and the resulting change in how biologists understand ecological mutualism.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the beginning of the passage to identify the initial premise.
Swiss botanist Simon Schwendener proposed in 1867 that lichens are composite organisms (fungus and alga), which challenged the existing view of them as single plants.
Establishing the starting point of the text helps trace its development.
2
Analyze the middle of the passage for transitions in perspective.
The initial resistance to the idea is highlighted, followed by the revelation that subsequent decades of research proved that both organisms benefit mutually.
This shows how the scientific consensus evolved in response to new evidence.
3
Examine the concluding sentence to understand the broader significance.
This shift in understanding lichens led to a wider acceptance of mutualism as a fundamental ecological force.
The conclusion contextualizes the primary objective of the entire text: showing how lichens served as a catalyst for a paradigm shift.
4
Evaluate the choices to find the one that encompasses the entire arc of the passage.
The option describing tracing the shift in scientific perspective from a contested hypothesis to a model for mutualism is the only choice that reflects the whole text.
All other choices focus on narrow details, misread the text's tone, or make overly broad claims.

Key Concept

Primary Purpose of the Whole Text
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Primary Purpose of the Whole Text

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