In archaeology, as in the physical sciences, new discoveries frequently undermine accepted beliefs and give rise to new theories. This trend can be seen in the reaction to the recent discovery of a set of 3.3 – million – year – old fossils in Ethiopia, the remains of the earliest well – preserved child ever found. The fossilized child was estimated to be about 3 years old at death, female, and a member of the Australopithecus afarensis species. The afarensis species, a major human ancestor, lived in Africa from earlier than 3.7 million to 3 million years ago. "Her completeness, antiquity, and age at death make this find unprecedented in the history of paleoanthropology," said Zeresenay Alemseged, a noted paleoanthropologist. Other scientists said that the discovery could reshape conceptions about the lives and capacities of these early humans.
Prior to this discovery, it had been thought that the afarensis species had abandoned the arboreal habitat of its ape cousins. However, while the lower limbs of this fossil supported findings that afarensis walked upright, its gorilla – like arms and shoulders suggested that it retained the ability to swing through trees. This has initiated a reexamination of many accepted theories of early human development. Also, the presence of a hyoid bone, a rarely preserved bone in the larynx that supports muscles of the throat, has had a tremendous impact on theories about the origins of speech. The fossil bone is primitive and more similar to that of apes than to that of humans, but it is the first hyoid found in such an early human – related species.
The passage quotes Zeresenay Alemseged in order to
Correct
Incorrect
Sample passage map (yours will likely differ):
(1) new disc → undermine old beliefs
-child fossil → new theories
(2) 2 things changed w/child
-walking / limbs
-speech / hyoid
The point (articulate to yourself; don't write): New discoveries change old ideas and give rise to new theories. A detailed archaeological example illustrates this overall point. The discovery of a particular skeleton led researchers to reexamine theories about early human life.
Identify the question type. The phrase in order to indicates that this is a Specific Purpose (Why) question. Return to the passage to find support, paying attention to what comes just before and after the referenced quotation. Alemseged says the find is unprecedented, and the passage goes on to say:
Other scientists said that the discovery could reshape conceptions about the lives and capacities of these early humans.
The author is using the discovery of this particular set of fossils to support the idea that discoveries can give rise to new theories. Alemseged says that the discovery is of something not seen before (unprecedented), and the other scientists explain why that's important—because it could give rise to new ideas.
(A) To qualify a claim is to limit or diminish it. Alemseged's quote does the opposite: It reinforces the point.
(B) Alemseged's quote emphasizes the importance of the discovery. The other scientists mentioned expound on this perspective.
(C) Linguistic abilities are mentioned at the end of the second paragraph, but Alemseged's quote is about the general significance of the find; it doesn't provide any support for a particular theory.
(D) CORRECT. This choice matches the answer predicted above.
(E) Alemseged's opinion is reinforced, not refuted, by the second paragraph, which delves into the important consequences of the discovery.
