Question

The animal, which roamed the seas 78-million years ago, is about 15-feet long — the length of a minibus — and bones indicate that the baby plesiosaur would have been as long as six feet when born.

The finding, published in the online edition of the journal Science on Thursday, is definitive evidence that the giant sea creature gave birth to single, live offspring, rather than laying eggs, like most reptiles, says paleontologist and lead author F. Robin O’Keefe. This reproductive behavior also indicates that the animals were gregarious social creatures that cared for their young, similar to toothed whales or dolphins, according to the paper.

“What is earth-shattering is that plesiosaurs are doing it differently than other reptiles,” O’Keefe said. “Instead of having lots of little babies, they’re having one big baby — a single, very large fetus.”

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, classify the word earth-shattering as denotative, connotative, or figurative, and then explain how context helped you determine the meaning of the phrase.

(4 points)

Short Answer Rubric (4 points)
Points Awarded Criteria
4
The answer is very clear.

The answer is fully supported by details.

There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.

3
The answer is mostly clear.

The answer is supported by mostly relevant details.

There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.

2
The answer is somewhat clear.

Details are weak or not related.

There are some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.

1
The answer is not clear.

There are few or no supporting details.

There are many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.

0 The question is not answered.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

The word "earth-shattering" is figurative in this context, as it conveys a sense of profound significance rather than a literal event that causes the ground to shake. The context of the sentence, where paleontologist F. Robin O’Keefe describes the finding about plesiosaurs' reproductive behavior as revolutionary, supports this interpretation. By using "earth-shattering," O’Keefe emphasizes the dramatic shift in understanding the reproductive practices of ancient marine reptiles compared to other reptiles, highlighting the importance of the discovery. This figurative language underscores the unexpected nature of the finding and its potential impact on scientific perspectives.