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Let's get rid of the four answers we can match up with the passage.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the last paragraph?
One explanation is criticized and
Why this is right
Sure, this works. The author criticizes the brevetoxin explanation concluded by the research team: "This explanation is not plausible: First, Second, Finally" And then the author proposes her preferred explanation, which is that pollution was the main culprit: "An alternative hypothesis is _____ ."
Skill tested: Organization · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.
82% picked this
An argument is advanced and
The first half of the last paragraph is "refuting" (too strong) the explanation of the research team. Then the second half is advancing the author's argument that the dolphins were killed by an uptick in exposure to pollutants.
4% picked this
Objections against a hypothesis are
The first part is correct: the author advances 3 objections against the research team's hypothesis. But after that the proposes an alternative hypothesis. She doesn't explain the research team's hypothesis more fully or reject her own objections to it.
3% picked this
New evidence in favor of
There is no new evidence offered. There is evidence against a theory. And the theory is not reaffirmed. The theory is deeply undermined, before the author then proposes an alternative theory.
4% picked this
Discrepancies between two explanations are
There are only two explanations in this passage, the research team's explanation that the deaths were primarily from brevetoxin poisoning, and the author's explanation that the deaths were primarily from exposure to pollutants.
8% picked this
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