Question 149·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
Archaeologists studying a seventeenth-century shipwreck argue that the vessel underwent improvised repairs during a long voyage. They cite irregularities in hull construction and mismatched fasteners as signs that the crew made do with whatever materials were available far from a shipyard. Dendrochronological analysis further suggests that some replacement timbers were cut years after the ship’s launch, indicating a later refitting.
For instance, the forward starboard frames are pegged with beech dowels rather than the oak treenails used elsewhere, and their spacing deviates by several inches from the shipwright’s plan.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
For function-of-sentence questions, first identify the main claim or purpose of the surrounding paragraph in your own words. Then reread just the targeted sentence and note signal words like "for instance," "however," or "therefore" to see whether it’s giving an example, contrasting a point, summarizing, or drawing a conclusion. Finally, match that role—not just repeated vocabulary—to the answer choice that best describes what the sentence is doing in the passage as a whole, and quickly rule out any options that mention ideas or functions not actually present in that sentence.
Hints
Find the passage’s main claim first
Before focusing on the underlined sentence, ask: What are the archaeologists trying to prove about the ship? Look at the first two sentences for their main argument.
Pay attention to the phrase “For instance”
The underlined sentence starts with "For instance." Think about what writers usually do right after that phrase. How does that help you understand the sentence’s role?
Check whether the sentence supports, opposes, or explains a method
Ask yourself: Is the underlined sentence giving support to the archaeologists’ claim, disagreeing with it, or explaining how one of their tools (like dendrochronology) works?
Match content, not just keywords
Don’t choose an answer just because it contains a familiar term from the passage (like "dendrochronology"). Make sure the actual content of the underlined sentence matches what the choice describes.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main claim of the passage
Read the first part of the passage to see what the archaeologists are arguing.
They argue that the vessel underwent improvised repairs during a long voyage. To support this, they mention:
- "irregularities in hull construction"
- "mismatched fasteners"
- dendrochronological analysis suggesting later replacement timbers.
So the overall point is: the ship shows signs of being repaired in a makeshift way after it first set sail.
Look closely at the underlined sentence
Now focus on the underlined sentence:
For instance, the forward starboard frames are pegged with beech dowels rather than the oak treenails used elsewhere, and their spacing deviates by several inches from the shipwright’s plan.
Key observations:
- It begins with "For instance", a phrase that usually introduces a specific example of something just mentioned.
- It describes particular details of the hull: beech dowels vs. oak treenails and spacing that doesn’t match the original plan.
- These details are irregularities in how the ship was built or modified.
Ask yourself: Is this sentence giving a general summary, explaining a method, or offering a concrete case?
Connect the underlined sentence to the main argument
Match what the underlined sentence is doing to the main claim:
- The earlier sentences say there are "irregularities in hull construction and mismatched fasteners" and argue this shows improvised repairs.
- The underlined sentence gives exactly such an irregularity: different wood and spacing that doesn’t follow the plan.
So its role is to illustrate or support the claim by showing a real, specific example of the irregular construction the archaeologists are talking about.
Eliminate choices that don't match this function
Now compare this role to the answer choices:
- It is not questioning methods or presenting a counterargument.
- It is not describing original construction before the voyage; instead, it highlights irregularities from the plan.
- It says nothing about how dendrochronology works; that method was discussed earlier.
The only choice that correctly captures that the sentence is a specific, concrete example backing up the claim about improvised repairs is:
B) It provides a concrete example supporting the claim that the ship underwent improvised repairs.