"Bias Won't Stop Young Scientist Studying Animals"

Question

by Vicky Stein

More than 25 percent of adults in the United States identify as having a disability—some physical or cognitive condition that limits their movements, senses or activities.

That’s a huge group of people who are underrepresented in scientific breakthroughs and technological development at the professional level, said volcano geophysicist and geoscience education researcher Anita Marshall of the University of Florida.

And that lack of representation leaves science as a whole worse off.

As the world faces a climate crisis and a growing global population, we’ll need all hands on deck, Marshall said. “People with disabilities are incredible innovators. We have to figure things out on a daily basis in a world that is not built for us—that kind of innovation, in science, could be amazing. And it is amazing.”

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Question
Use the excerpt from “Bias Won't Stop Young Scientist Studying Animals” to answer the question.

How does the author use the last paragraph to develop and refine the central idea?(1 point)
Responses

The author’s central idea is that the lack of representation of people with disabilities leaves science worse off. The last paragraph gives reasons that people with disabilities are needed in science—because they have tremendous innovative capacities.
The author’s central idea is that the lack of representation of people with disabilities leaves science worse off. The last paragraph gives reasons that people with disabilities are needed in science—because they have tremendous innovative capacities.

The author’s central idea is that people with disabilities are underrepresented in scientific breakthroughs and technological development at the professional level. The last paragraph gives reasons the climate crisis and a growing global population make this problem worse.
The author’s central idea is that people with disabilities are underrepresented in scientific breakthroughs and technological development at the professional level. The last paragraph gives reasons the climate crisis and a growing global population make this problem worse.

The author’s central idea is that more than 25 percent of adults in the United States identify as having a disability. The last paragraph gives reasons that people who have a disability are not represented in science.
The author’s central idea is that more than 25 percent of adults in the United States identify as having a disability. The last paragraph gives reasons that people who have a disability are not represented in science.

The author’s central idea is that people with disabilities are underrepresented in scientific breakthroughs and technological development at the professional level. The last paragraph gives reasons they are likely to be better represented in the future.
The author’s central idea is that people with disabilities are underrepresented in scientific breakthroughs and technological development at the professional level. The last paragraph gives reasons they are likely to be better represented in the future.
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Answer 1

The best response to the question about how the author uses the last paragraph to develop and refine the central idea is:

The author’s central idea is that the lack of representation of people with disabilities leaves science worse off. The last paragraph gives reasons that people with disabilities are needed in science—because they have tremendous innovative capacities.

This choice accurately captures the central message of the excerpt and explains how the last paragraph reinforces that message by highlighting the valuable innovations people with disabilities can bring to scientific fields.