Question

in their study of fossils of the extinct arthropod mollisonia symmetrica, javier ortega - hernández, sarah losso, and team reported some obvious indications of m. symmetricas nervous system - for example, the animals primary nerve cord. they also saw signs of what might be a synganglion, a brain - like mass of nerve tissue, in the animals head. this evidence is exciting because it could help us better understand how m. symmetrica is related to other arthropods, such as cave crickets and krill. which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole? a) it indicates that the teams claims about the m. symmetrica fossils are incorrect. b) it gives the definition of the term “synganglion” used earlier in the text. c) it explains why the teams finding of a possible synganglion is exciting. d) it states that krill are arthropods but cave crickets are not.

Explanation:

The text discusses a study on fossils of extinct arthropods. The underlined portion focuses on how evidence from other arthropods like cave crickets and krill could help understand the relationship of M. symmetrica to the function of a nerve - like mass (synganglion). It's about interpreting the significance of findings in the context of arthropod fossils. Option A is incorrect as there's no indication of team claims about M. symmetrica in the underlined part. Option B is wrong as it doesn't define synganglion. Option D is incorrect as it doesn't state about krill and cave crickets in that regard. Option C is correct as it explains why the finding of a possible synganglion is exciting in relation to other arthropods.

Answer:

C. It explains why the finding of a possible synganglion is exciting.