The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glide r and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly what these creatures were—reptiles or birds—are among the questions scientists have puzzled over. Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls, pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing-like membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers may have been employed for grasping. When a pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal’s body. The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts. Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T. H. Huxley reasoned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-blooded because flying implies a high rate of metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal temperature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidence that his reasoning was correct. Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became airborne have led to suggestions that they launched themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs’ hind feet resembled a bat’s and could serve as hooks by which the animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without damaging their wings. The third calls for high waves to channel updrafts. The wind that made such waves however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne. 1 1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now generally agree that the (A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled them to fly great distances (B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a close evolutionary relationship to bats (C) fossil remains of the pterosaurs reveal how they solved the problem of powered flight (D) pterosaurs were reptiles (E) pterosaurs walked on all fours 2 2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs became airborne by rising into light winds created by waves as (A) revolutionary (B) unlikely (C) unassailable (D) probable (E) outdated 3 3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by the (A) size of its wingspan (B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones (C) anatomic origin of its wing strut (D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet (E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its body 4 4. The ideas attributed to T. H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of the following statements? (A) An animal’s brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors. (B) An animal’s appearance is often influenced by environmental requirements and physical capabilities. (C) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance dramatically over a period of time. (D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome of specialization or adaptation. (E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles. 5 5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following is characteristic of the pterosaurs? (A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in use. (B) They hung upside down from branches as bats do before flight. (C) They flew in order to capture prey. (D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the birds. (E) They lived primarily in a forest-like habitat. 6 6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage? (A) New evidence is introduced to support a traditional point of view. (B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are presented, and each is disputed by means of specific information. (C) Three hypotheses are outlined, and evidence supporting each is given. (D) Recent discoveries are described, and their implications for future study are projected. (E) A summary of the material in the preceding paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are drawn. 7 7. It can be inferred from the passage that some scientists believe that pterosaurs (A) lived near large bodies of water (B) had sharp teeth for tearing food (C) were attacked and eaten by larger reptiles (D) had longer tails than many birds (E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain their body temperature JOURNAL ARTICLE Pterosaurs Wann Langston Jr. Scientific American Vol. 244, No. 2 (February 1981), pp. 122-137 Published by: Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24964287 Page Count: 16 Pterosaurs.pdf

Hi. Key line in the passage: Least controversial means enjoys the widest agreement among specialists. The statement that pterosaurs were reptiles is therefore something “scientists now generally agree” on. Thus we can conclude that scientists agree on PT's being reptiles.

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The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs

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Sajjad1994

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Official Explanation

6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the last paragraph of the passage?

Difficulty Level: 500

Explanation

(A) This option suggests that the paragraph introduces new evidence to support a traditional point of view. However, the paragraph primarily presents three hypotheses about how pterosaurs became airborne and discusses the difficulties associated with each, rather than focusing on new evidence supporting a traditional viewpoint.

(B) This option accurately describes the organization of the last paragraph. The paragraph presents three hypotheses about how pterosaurs became airborne (jumping from cliffs, dropping from trees, and rising from waves) and disputes each hypothesis by discussing the difficulties associated with them.

(C) This option suggests that evidence supporting each hypothesis is given. However, the paragraph mainly discusses the difficulties and challenges associated with each hypothesis rather than providing evidence in support of each.

(D) This option does not accurately capture the content of the last paragraph. The paragraph discusses hypotheses about how pterosaurs became airborne and the difficulties associated with each, rather than focusing on recent discoveries and their implications for future study.

(E) This option suggests that the paragraph provides a summary of the preceding material and draws conclusions. However, the paragraph primarily introduces new information about hypotheses regarding how pterosaurs became airborne and discusses the associated difficulties, rather than summarizing previous material and drawing conclusions.

Answer: B

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03 May 2025, 00:09

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Hi experts KarishmaB GMATNinja MartyMurray

In question-1, could you please explain why option D is correct? I eliminated all other options but still not crystal clear on option D.

My thinking is: Even though para-2 starts with the line "Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles." there is nothing suggested as a conclusion or on solid grounds that scientists agree that the Pterosaurs were reptiles. I am not very clear how can we infer "least controversial assertion" provides support to option D as an answer.

Please let me know what I am missing here.

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agrasan

Hi.

Key line in the passage:

Quote:

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles.

Least controversial means enjoys the widest agreement among specialists.
The statement that pterosaurs were reptiles is therefore something “scientists now generally agree” on.

Thus we can conclude that scientists agree on PT's being reptiles.

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