1

Problem

Anthropologist Kristian J. Carlson and colleagues examined the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of a 3.6-million-year-old early hominin known as “Little Foot.” They found that these bones were____the clavicle and shoulder bones of modern apes that are frequent climbers, such as gorillas and chimpanzees, suggesting that Little Foot had adapted to life in the trees.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

2

Clue

The details and facts help to draw the main idea of the passage.

3

Sumup

Please summarize Problem, Hint, Clue

Choices

4

Choice-A

Choice A is incorrect because if the fossilized bones of Little Foot were “surpassed by”—that is, exceeded by or made inferior to—the bones of modern apes that are frequent climbers, it would not suggest, as the text states, that Little Foot was adapted to life in the trees. Instead, such wording would imply that Little Foot was less well adapted for climbing compared with chimpanzees and gorillas.

Wrong surpassed by

5

Choice-B

Choice B is the correct answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the fossilized bones of the hominin known as Little Foot. As used in this context, “comparable to” would mean similar to. The text indicates that the relationship between the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of Little Foot and the clavicle and shoulder bones of “frequent climbers,” such as chimpanzees and gorillas, suggests that Little Foot had adapted to moving around in trees. This context suggests that the relationship between the fossilized bones of Little Foot and the bones of chimpanzees and gorillas is one of similarity—the Little Foot fossils are likely comparable to the modern ape bones.

Correct comparable to

6

Choice-C

Choice C is incorrect because if Little Foot’s fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones were “independent of”—that is, not influenced by or connected to—the bones of modern apes that climb frequently, it would not suggest, as the text indicates, that Little Foot was adapted to life in the trees.

Wrong independent of

7

Choice-D

Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that Little Foot’s fossilized bones date to 3.6 million years ago, so they couldn’t have been “obtained from,” or acquired from, the bones of modern apes.

Wrong obtained from

8

Step

The choice that logically completes the text - comparable to

9

Answer

Option

B

10

Sumup

Please summarize choices