The word "earth-shattering" is classified as connotative. In this context, it suggests a significant and groundbreaking discovery, evoking a sense of importance and astonishment rather than its literal meaning of causing the earth to shake. The context provided by the quote from paleontologist F. Robin O’Keefe highlights the unique reproductive behavior of plesiosaurs compared to other reptiles, emphasizing the impact and novelty of the finding. This helps readers understand that the term is used to convey the excitement and significance of the discovery in the field of paleontology.
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.
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