Question

the main, or central, idea of the passage is medication derived from pit viper venom works to lower high blood pressure. how does the detail in bold develop the main idea?

british scientist sir john vane was studying hypertension, or high blood pressure, a serious condition that increases the risk of death from heart disease and other problems. he was intrigued by the venom of the bothrops jararaca pit viper. this snakes bite produces a dramatic drop in blood pressure, causing victims to collapse suddenly. vane reasoned that if scientists could learn how pit viper venom lowers blood pressure, they might be able to create a medicine that uses a similar mechanism. in the 1970s, vane and his colleagues conducted many experiments with the venom to try to isolate the components that affect blood pressure. they discovered that the venom blocks the production of angiotensin, a hormone in the human body that constricts blood vessels and consequently raises blood pressure. as vane had predicted, these findings led to the development of a new group of medications, ace inhibitors. these medicines are now widely used to treat hypertension.

it explains the modern product of the scientists blood pressure research.

it introduces the inspiration for vanes experiments with blood pressure.

it describes the finding that led to the development of helpful medicines. .

Explanation:

The bolded detail explains the scientific finding (how the venom blocks angiotensin production) that led to the development of ACE inhibitors (helpful medications for hypertension). The first option is incorrect as it refers to the modern product, not the detail's role. The second is incorrect as the inspiration was the snake's bite effect, not this detail. The third option matches as the detail is the finding that enabled medicine development.

Answer:

It describes the finding that led to the development of helpful medicines.