Question

1 alfred wegener was a brilliant meteorologist who had completed respected polar research in greenland. yet when he proposed a groundbreaking theory, it was met with strong opposition. in 1911, wegener had noticed a scientific paper identifying fossils found on opposite sides of the atlantic. although separated by an ocean, the fossils proved to be remains of identical plant and animal species. these findings prompted wegener to examine maps, pondering the way the western coastline of africa seemed to correspond to the eastern coastline of south america as if they once had fit together. as wegener studied the shapes of the other continents and encountered additional cases of identical species divided by oceans, he developed a pioneering idea. he fearlessly suggested that all of the continents had been united in one supercontinent 300 million years ago. wegener gave the name pangaea (meaning all lands) to this ancient supercontinent. he believed that the gigantic landmass had broken into pieces that slowly moved apart, forming the continents.
2 wegeners continental drift theory was revolutionary. however, his idea was greeted with hostility and ridicule by most researchers. geologists viewed wegener as an outsider intruding on their academic territory. more importantly, the closed-minded scientists were already wedded to a rival explanation for the similarities in species on continents separated by oceans. scholars at the time explained such similarities by arguing that land bridges had once linked distant continents. resistant researchers also pointed out that wegener did not have a full explanation for how the continents had moved. did they simply plow through the oceanic crust?
3 wegeners idea did not gain wide acceptance until the 1950s. when scientists analyzed the magnetic minerals in ancient rocks, they found powerful evidence for the continental drift theory. these minerals act like compasses matching up to the earths magnetic field lines. since their north-south direction was frozen into place when the molten rock solidified, researchers could tell where they had originally been located and how the continents had moved over time. for example, samples taken from india revealed that the land had previously been in the southern hemisphere, as wegeners theory had
the statements on the left present two viewpoints held by the author. drag two pieces of textual evidence to each box that show how the authors use of language reveals these viewpoints in the passage. two pieces of evidence will not be used.
textual evidence
alfred wegeners theory challenged accepted beliefs.
it took courage for alfred wegener to present his theory.
“he fearlessly suggested”
“he proposed a groundbreaking theory”
“alfred wegener was a brilliant meteorologist”
“he developed a pioneering idea”
“wegener gave the name pangaea (meaning all lands) to this ancient supercontinent.”
“for alfred wegeners bold proposal to be recognized”

Explanation:

For the viewpoint that Alfred Wegener's theory challenged accepted beliefs, select evidence that highlights the theory's revolutionary, unorthodox nature against existing scientific ideas. For the viewpoint that it took courage for Wegener to present his theory, select evidence that emphasizes his boldness in putting forward the idea despite opposition.

Answer:

Alfred Wegener's theory challenged accepted beliefs.

• "he proposed a groundbreaking theory"
• "he developed a pioneering idea"

It took courage for Alfred Wegener to present his theory.

• "He fearlessly suggested"
• "for Alfred Wegener's bold proposal to be recognized"