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Question

Difficulty: MediumPart-to-Whole Rhetorical Function

Beavers are widely recognized as ecosystem engineers due to their ability to alter landscapes through dam construction. By blocking watercourses, they create wetlands that support diverse plant and animal communities. While some researchers have argued that these dams primarily obstruct fish migration, recent studies indicate that the resulting ponds actually provide crucial rearing habitats for juvenile salmonids. Thus, the structural modifications introduced by beavers tend to enhance, rather than compromise, the resilience of local freshwater ecosystems.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

  1. A
    It states the primary conclusion of the passage regarding the overall ecological value of beaver dams.
  2. B
    It details how salmonids navigate physical obstructions to illustrate how beavers select locations for their dams.
  3. It introduces a potential drawback of dam construction in order to present research that counters it.Answer
  4. D
    It predicts how future hydrological changes in wetlands will impact the survival rate of juvenile fish species.

Answer

It introduces a potential drawback of dam construction in order to present research that counters it.
The correct option is the one stating that the sentence introduces a potential drawback of dam construction in order to present research that counters it. The first clause of the underlined sentence acknowledges the concern that dams obstruct fish migration (the drawback), while the second clause provides evidence from recent studies that these dammed areas provide crucial rearing habitats (countering the criticism) to support the overall argument that beavers benefit local ecosystems.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage structure and find the target sentence.
The target sentence is the third sentence, which addresses a conflict between an argument that dams obstruct migration and research that dams provide crucial rearing habitats.
Identifying the content and context of the sentence is necessary to evaluate its rhetorical function.
2
Determine the relationship between the target sentence and the rest of the text.
The passage establishes beavers as beneficial ecosystem engineers (sentences 1-2) and concludes that they enhance resilience (sentence 4). The target sentence addresses a counter-claim about fish migration but refutes it, thereby defending the general positive claim.
This establishes how the part relates to the whole argument.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the one that accurately describes this relationship.
The option stating that it introduces a potential drawback of dam construction in order to present research that counters it correctly describes this function.
The concern about migration is the drawback, and the studies showing rearing benefits counter it.

Key Concept

Identifying the rhetorical function of a specific sentence in a passage (Part-to-Whole).
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Part-to-Whole Rhetorical Function

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