Detail Question in a TOEFL Reading Academic Passage on Marine Biology – Advanced

Pregunta 1 — detail

According to paragraph 1, what was the prevailing scientific belief about the deep ocean before the discovery of hydrothermal vents?

That it contained a high density of unique life forms.
That it was mostly a barren environment with very limited life.
That its ecosystems were based on a different form of photosynthesis.
That it was too toxic to support any form of life at all.

Answer Explanation

[PASSAGE] "For centuries, the scientific consensus held that all complex ecosystems on Earth were ultimately powered by photosynthesis... The deep ocean, devoid of light, was largely considered a biological desert, sparsely populated by organisms subsisting on the meager rain of organic detritus from the sunlit surface waters." Before the discovery, scientists believed the deep ocean was mostly empty of life because it lacked sunlight, with only a few organisms surviving on decaying matter from above. [WHY CORRECT] Option 2 is correct because the passage directly states that the deep ocean "was largely considered a biological desert, sparsely populated by organisms subsisting on the meager rain of organic detritus." This explicitly describes it as a barren environment with very limited life. [TRAPS] Option 1 is incorrect because the passage says the deep ocean was considered a "biological desert," which contradicts the idea of a high density of unique life forms. Option 3 is incorrect because the passage states the belief was that *all* complex ecosystems were powered by photosynthesis, implying no other form was considered for the deep ocean. Option 4 is too extreme; "sparsely populated" means some life, not "no form of life at all." [TIP] When answering detail questions, look for direct statements or restatements in the passage and match them closely with the options. Avoid inferring beyond what is explicitly stated.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A (“That it contained a high density of unique life forms.”) attaches the right fact to the wrong subject.
Option C (“That its ecosystems were based on a different form of photosynthesis.”) states information not mentioned in the passage.
Option D (“That it was too toxic to support any form of life at all.”) distorts a detail that the passage actually gives.

Key Language in Context

Watch how academic vocabulary around Marine Biology signals meaning. TOEFL detail items reward readers who track tone, transitions, and precise word choice rather than surface keywords.

Skill Takeaway

Match the answer word-for-meaning against the passage rather than the gist.