Question

The author of this passage is primarily concerned with:

• A. arguing that theories about why the giant ground sloth went extinct all lack solid scientific evidence
• B. comparing and contrasting the extinction of the giant ground sloth to the extinction of other animals
• C. providing examples of the ways in which human populations contributed to the extinction of many different types of prehistoric animals
• D. suggesting that the giant ground sloth was hunted to its extinction
• E. summarizing several different theories about the reason for the giant ground sloth's extinction

Hint:

When identifying the main focus of a passage, look for recurring themes and discussions, especially if multiple viewpoints are presented.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Understanding the author's focus.
The author presents multiple theories about the extinction of the giant ground sloth, including human hunting, climate change, and hyper-disease. The passage doesn't focus on a single theory but instead discusses several potential reasons.

Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) The author does discuss theories of extinction, but not all of them lack solid scientific evidence.
- (B) The author does compare different theories but doesn't directly contrast the sloth's extinction to that of other animals in detail.
- (C) The passage does mention human influence but does not focus primarily on this aspect alone.
- (D) The passage suggests human hunting as one of the theories but doesn't specifically claim that this was the sole cause.
- (E) The author is primarily summarizing various theories regarding the extinction of the sloth. This is the most accurate description of the author's focus.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (E), as the author discusses multiple theories about the cause of the giant ground sloth's extinction.