Q18

[lolitatrekkie]

I picked the correct answer C just from guessing under timed pressure but I don't understand how the geologists suggested title of Jeffrey's work "An Earth" emphasizes an opinion of his work?

From what I understood from the passage I thought that Jeffrey bluntly disagrees with Runcorn's studies about the continental drift and since he had such disdain for it wouldn't the other geologists be criticizing Jeffrey's work?

Thanks!

[ohthatpatrick]

Question Type:
Purpose of Information

Answer expected in lines/paragraph:
"in order to" / "serves to" / "primarily to" usually reinforces a bigger point being made in the previous sentence or two.

Any prephrase?
The final three sentences of the 2nd paragraph are wrapping up the author bodyslamming Jeffrey. He started the 2nd paragraph with a snipe -- "Jeffrey's obviously PERFUNCTORY observation". Starting from line 40, you get the author saying "Runcorn had shown clear evidence that Wegener was right. Jeffreys BRUSQUELY rejected it with CASUAL DISDAIN." So the retitling of "An Earth" is just supposed to be a snarky takedown of Jeffreys.

Correct answer:
C

Answer choice analysis:

A) There aren't TWO ideas to point to. Jeffreys rejected Wegener's continental drift hypothesis, and the author is making fun of the book in which Jeffreys did so.

B) The author is more concerned with defending Wegener's theory against Jeffreys' criticism. This is close, but the author is using the book title joke to corroborate her criticism of Jeffreys brusque, casaul disdain for Wegener's theory / Rancorn's evidence.

C) This is more precise than B. The author was shaking his head in disgust at Jeffreys quick dismissal of Rancorn's evidence. "True to form, jerk." the author is saying. The sentence about the retitling of the book begins, "THIS casual disdain led some to retitle Jeffreys old book." Changing the title of the book emphasizes the author's opinion of Jeffreys' work.

D) Not even close.

E) This IS an assertion about Jeffreys' critics. It's not support for such an assertion. It's support for the author's own assertions.

Takeaway/Pattern: Honestly, these answer choices are a little annoying. (B) and (C) are a little too close for my liking. It's not clear whose 'criticisms' (B) is referring to. If it's OTHER PEOPLE's criticisms, then the answer is off base. But the author WAS criticizing Jeffreys in the 3rd and 2nd to last sentences of the 2nd paragraph. And the author's mention of the re-titled book is meant to reinforce those criticisms. I wouldn't expect a modern test to make us pick between "justify the author's criticisms" and "emphasize the author's opinion". They ARE subtly different and (C) is a better fit, but still.

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