Question
(1) Imagine taking a walk in the woods to search for arrowheads when, all of a sudden, you stumble across an enormous bone jutting out of the ground! (2) That’s exactly what happened one day in 1978 when two 19-year-olds discovered a fossilized mammoth bone in a dusty riverbed. (3) At first the teens did not realize they had found the remains of one of North America’s largest mammoth herds. (4) Baylor University paleontologists eventually confirmed their discovery of 16 mammoths—10 females and 6 juveniles. (5) The scientists then began researching how the 16 mammoths in the herd ended up in this particular location. (6) For many years paleontologists believed the mammoths were killed by a sudden catastrophe; however, new discoveries helped researchers determine that the mammoths died more slowly. (7) Over the years as scientists studied the mammoths, they uncovered more information that altered their initial theories. (8) This happens often due to new discoveries or additional data that lead to new theories. (9) One initial theory was that the mammoth herd was trapped in a ravine and drowned in a flash flood. (10) Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time. (11) That would have made it hard to survive the sudden flooding. (12) However, as the scientists studied the fossils over several years, researchers discovered that the growth patterns on the bones appeared stunted, as though the animals did not have sufficient nutrition. (20) Wiest’s team developed their theory after they carefully studied the mammoth bones and saw tooth marks made from rodents and holes created by scavenger beetles. (21) Researchers believed that the holes and tooth marks on the bones provided evidence that the bones were not immediately buried by sediment or by water; rather, they had been exposed to the elements for a long time. (22) The malnourished condition of the mammoths seems to support Wiest’s drought theory. (23) Further testing also suggested the mammoths had died when central Texas was in a cool period—about seven degrees cooler on average than today. (24) This leading theory about the fate of the Waco mammoth herd is not supported by all researchers, but it is one of the most highly regarded suggestions about what happened to the animals.
15. Which sentence in the third paragraph (sentences 7–12) is extraneous and should be deleted from the essay? A.Sentence 7 B.Sentence 8 C.Sentence 9 D.Sentence 12 16. What is the most effective way to combine sentences 10 and 11?A.Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled climbing out of the ravine in time and that would have made it hard to survive the sudden flooding.B.Making it hard to survive the sudden flooding, mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time because they are so large. C.The mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time. This is because they are so large, and that would have made it hard to survive the sudden flooding. D.Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time to survive the sudden flooding.17. Zendaya would like to add another detail in the fifth paragraph (sentences 20–24). Although the temperatures were only slightly different, the changes may have greatly affected rainfall, soil, and plant and animal growth, ultimately leading to the mammoths’ death. Where is the best place to insert this sentence?A.After sentence 20 B.After sentence 22 C.After sentence 23 D.After sentence 24
15. Which sentence in the third paragraph (sentences 7–12) is extraneous and should be deleted from the essay? A.Sentence 7 B.Sentence 8 C.Sentence 9 D.Sentence 12 16. What is the most effective way to combine sentences 10 and 11?A.Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled climbing out of the ravine in time and that would have made it hard to survive the sudden flooding.B.Making it hard to survive the sudden flooding, mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time because they are so large. C.The mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time. This is because they are so large, and that would have made it hard to survive the sudden flooding. D.Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time to survive the sudden flooding.17. Zendaya would like to add another detail in the fifth paragraph (sentences 20–24). Although the temperatures were only slightly different, the changes may have greatly affected rainfall, soil, and plant and animal growth, ultimately leading to the mammoths’ death. Where is the best place to insert this sentence?A.After sentence 20 B.After sentence 22 C.After sentence 23 D.After sentence 24
Answers
GPT-4o mini
15. The extraneous sentence in the third paragraph is: **B. Sentence 8**. This sentence introduces a general statement about how new discoveries impact scientific theories, which is not specifically relevant to the context of the mammoth herd discussed in the preceding and following sentences.
16. The most effective way to combine sentences 10 and 11 is: **D. Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time to survive the sudden flooding.** This option flows well and clearly connects the struggle to escape with the resulting impact on their survival.
17. The best place to insert the additional detail about weather changes affecting the mammoths’ death is: **C. After sentence 22**. This placement allows for a smooth transition that connects the malnourished condition of the mammoths to the environmental factors that could have contributed to their demise.
16. The most effective way to combine sentences 10 and 11 is: **D. Because they are so large, the mammoths likely would have struggled to climb out of the ravine in time to survive the sudden flooding.** This option flows well and clearly connects the struggle to escape with the resulting impact on their survival.
17. The best place to insert the additional detail about weather changes affecting the mammoths’ death is: **C. After sentence 22**. This placement allows for a smooth transition that connects the malnourished condition of the mammoths to the environmental factors that could have contributed to their demise.