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Difficulty: EasyRhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

While preparing a presentation on marine ecology, a student takes the following notes:
* Marine biologist Elena Vance investigated the diet of green sea turtles (*Chelonia mydas*) in the Mediterranean Sea.
* Green sea turtles are known to consume both seagrasses and small marine animals.
* Vance analyzed chemical markers in the turtles' shells to determine their primary food source.
* High levels of the marker carbon-13 indicate a diet consisting mainly of the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica*.
* The analysis of the turtles' shells revealed very high levels of carbon-13 and no markers associated with marine animals.

The student wants to use information from the notes to support the claim that the turtles in the study eat seagrass rather than marine animals. Which choice most effectively uses information from the given notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A
    Vance's study analyzed chemical markers in the shells of green sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea to learn more about their food sources.
  2. B
    The green sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea eat the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica* because it is more abundant and easier to find than marine animals.
  3. Vance's analysis of the turtles' shells showed high levels of carbon-13, indicating a diet of the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica*, and no chemical markers associated with marine animals.Answer
  4. D
    The presence of carbon-13 in the shells of the green sea turtles suggests that they consume marine animals instead of the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica*.

Answer

Vance's analysis of the turtles' shells showed high levels of carbon-13, indicating a diet of the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica*, and no chemical markers associated with marine animals.
The correct answer uses the specific findings from the notes to support the target claim. By noting the presence of carbon-13 (which corresponds to a seagrass diet) and the lack of markers for marine animals, the option directly supports the claim that the turtles eat seagrass rather than animals.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target claim specified in the prompt.
The target claim is that the green sea turtles in Vance's study eat seagrass rather than marine animals.
This establishes the standard against which all options must be measured.
2
Examine the notes to find the evidence related to seagrass and marine animal consumption.
The notes state that carbon-13 indicates a diet of the seagrass *Posidonia oceanica*, and that the shells analyzed showed high levels of carbon-13 and no markers associated with marine animals.
This identifies the explicit facts that can serve as evidence for the claim.
3
Evaluate the choices to see which one accurately presents this evidence to support the claim.
The choice detailing the presence of carbon-13 (signifying seagrass) and the absence of marine animal markers directly supports the claim without adding unsupported speculation or misrepresenting the facts.
This confirms the correct option.

Key Concept

Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims
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Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

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