Demo 3 — What does the experiment establish?
Predict first. Write one lead verb + topic + limit. Scan the first verb of each option, then read each option to the end and check its content against the study’s actual question.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
Space scientists Anna-Lisa Paul, Stephen M. Elardo, and Robert Ferl planted seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana in samples of lunar regolith—the surface material of the Moon—and, serving as a control group, in terrestrial soil. They found that while all the seeds germinated, the roots of the regolith-grown plants were stunted compared with those in the control group. Moreover, unlike the plants in the control group, the regolith-grown plants exhibited red pigmentation, reduced leaf size, and inhibited growth rates—indicators of stress that were corroborated by postharvest molecular analysis.
- It describes an experiment that addressed an unresolved question about the extent to which lunar regolith resembles terrestrial soils.
- It compares two distinct methods of assessing indicators of stress in plants grown in a simulated lunar environment.
- It presents evidence in support of the hypothesis that seed germination in lunar habitats is an unattainable goal.
- It discusses the findings of a study that evaluated the effects of exposing a plant species to lunar soil conditions.
Show answer
D. It discusses the findings of a study that evaluated the effects of exposing a plant species to lunar soil conditions.
D includes the study and its results without inventing a different research aim.
Closest trap: B invents a comparison of methods. A opens with a fitting verb but changes the question the experiment asked.