Question

the mediterranean sea, a brilliant blue sea linking europe, the middle east, and africa, may not have always looked quite like the tourist brochures depict. the mediterranean’s seafloor is covered in a miles - thick layer of salt, strongly suggesting that at one point, the sea completely or nearly dried up. but what could have caused such a drastic transformation? scientists believe the answer lies within the strait of gibraltar, the waterway connecting the mediterranean sea to the atlantic ocean. researchers have determined that approximately six million years ago, the earth’s plates moved and closed off the strait of gibraltar, cutting off the mediterranean sea from its biggest source of water. fortunately for modern tourists, the strait of gibraltar reopened around 5.33 million years ago. although some scientists believe this was due to rising sea levels or the movement of earth’s plates, the most likely theory is that a stream slowly eroded the surrounding land, becoming larger over time. scientists believe that, at one point, approximately 100 million cubic meters of water per second poured into the mediterranean. how does the author advance their primary argument? choose 1 answer: a by asking questions about the cause of the mediterranean’s transformation. b by providing examples of how similar geologic transformations occurred. c by reporting common theories of the modern scientific community. d by using figurative language to portray the contrast between ancient and modern geography.

Explanation:

• Option A: The author asks "But what could have caused such a drastic transformation?" to introduce the explanation of the Mediterranean's change, which is a key way to advance the argument.
• Option B: The passage does not provide examples of similar geologic transformations.
• Option C: The passage presents scientific theories about the Mediterranean's past, not "common theories of the modern scientific community" in a general sense, and the main way of advancing the argument is through the question - answer structure about the cause, not just reporting theories.
• Option D: There is no figurative language used to portray the contrast between ancient and modern geography.

Answer:

A. by asking questions about the cause of the Mediterranean’s transformation.