Reading Comprehension

PT139 · S3 · P4 · Q22 Calvaria Major and the Dodo

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Calvaria major is a rare but once-abundant tree found on the island of Mauritius, which was also home to the dodo, a large flightless bird that became extinct about three centuries ago.

Topic

The decline of the Calvaria major tree on Mauritius and the debated link to the extinction of the dodo bird.

Framework

Challenge Position

Main Point

Stanley Temple proposed that the near-extinction of the Calvaria major tree was caused by the disappearance of the dodo, which he claimed was necessary for the tree’s seed germination; however, specialists have since challenged Temple’s theory, arguing that the tree can reproduce without the dodo and that other causes may better explain its rarity. (Most Valuable Sentence: The final paragraph, especially: )

P1: Introduction to Calvaria Major and Temple’s Hypothesis

We learn that Calvaria major used to be common on Mauritius, which was also home to the now-extinct dodo. Stanley Temple noted only old, dying Calvaria trees remaining and speculated that the trees stopped reproducing after the dodo disappeared.

P2: Explaining Temple’s Dodo Hypothesis

Temple suggested that the Calvaria fruit evolved a tough pit because the dodo ate the fruit, and that the dodo's process of eating and digesting the fruit was necessary to break down the pit so seeds could germinate. Without dodos, he thought, seeds were trapped and couldn’t grow.

P3: Temple’s Supporting Evidence

Temple did some indirect experiments, like feeding Calvaria pits to turkeys, and a few seeds sprouted. He used data from other birds and seed strength tests to argue that the dodo's gizzard could have done the job, using this as evidence for his theory.

22.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

  1. Calvaria major germination, though rare,

    Too Narrow

    This is ripped from the 2nd to last sentence of the passage, so, yes, this is a true claim, but it's not the main point. Remember that guy Temple, who we talked about in all 4 paragraphs? He needs to make an appearance in the main point answer (or at least his theory that "dodo bird extinction imperils Calvaria major" needs to show up).

    4% picked this

  2. Correct

    The appeal of Temple's hypothesis

    Why this is right

    This captures the author's position on Temple's hypothesis, which was the central topic of the passage. The goal of main point is to express our author's one-sentence takeaway about the central topic. The author thought that Temple "did offer some findings in support of his hypothesis which lent his argument a semblance of rigor", and she acknowledges that "many scientists found this dramatic and intriguing hypothesis plausible". But she ends the passage by presenting subsequent research that pokes huge holes in Temple's theory. - the trees are still germinating, even though the dodo has been gone for centuries - there are other ways to explain the declining numbers of Calvaria major trees.

    Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    81% picked this

  3. Temple's experimentation with Calvaria major

    Opposite

    The main clause here is that "Temple's experimentation led to a probable solution to the mystery of the tree's decline". This is the opposite of (B), which says, "Temple's hypothesis is probably not the solution to the mystery of the tree's decline". The author wouldn't have ended the passage with strong challenges by leading specialists in the field, if she thought that Temple was probably correct.

    6% picked this

  4. Temple's dramatic but speculative hypothesis,

    Opposite-ish

    This is a slightly softer version of (C), since it says that "Temple's hypothesis may be correct", whereas (C) said it's probably correct. Our author certainly wouldn't say Temple's hypothesis is probably correct, but she might grudgingly acknowledge it's possibly correct, even though it would seem to be badly undermined by Strahm's and Speke's research. But the main point shouldn't be emphasizing the possibility of the theory being correct. Since the author lays out the theory and then ends the passage with a paragraph worth of push-back and counterevidence, the author wants to leave us with a skeptical feeling, not an optimistic / charitable feeling, towards Temple's hypothesis.

    5% picked this

  5. Calvaria major would probably still

    Too Narrow Inference vs. Main Point

    Since the author acknowledges that there has been a population decline when it comes to Calvaria major trees but doesn't think the Temple's argument is persuasive, about the dodo's extinction being the cause of that decline, our author would probably agree to the idea that "even if the dodo had not become extinct, Calvaria major trees would probably still be scarce today". This is sort of an anti-causal version of Flip the Causal Difference-Maker inferences. CAUSAL CLAIM: Sally was late because of the accident on the highway. SUPPORTABLE INFERENCE: Had there not been an accident, she would not have been late. ANTI-CAUSAL CLAIM: Sally's tardiness had nothing to do with the highway accident. SUPPORTABLE INFERENCE: Even if there hadn't been a highway accident, Sally still would have been tardy. So while the author would agree with this answer, that doesn't make it the main point of the passage, primarily because it leaves out Temple, who was a central figure in all four paragraphs.

    4% picked this

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