Question

Based on the passage, which choice best describes the relationship between Putman's and Lohmann's research?

• A. Putman's research contradicts Lohmann's
• B. Putman's research builds on Lohmann's
• C. Lohmann's research confirms Putman's
• D. Lohmann's research corrects Putman's

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Putman's research builds on Lohmann's

Option B is the correct answer. As is mentioned in the third paragraph, Putman “works in the lab of Ken Lohmann, who has been studying the magnetic abilities of loggerheads for over 20 years”. Lohmann had earlier demonstrated that loggerhead turtles “could use the [magnetic] field as a compass to get their bearing” and “use their magnetic sense to work out their latitude — their position on a north-south axis”. Putman has since built on Lohmann’s work by demonstrating that the turtles “can also determine their longitude — their position on an east-west axis” as can be understood from the entire passage.

Option A is incorrect because as can be understood from the passage and the previous explanation, Putman's research never contradicted that of Lohman's, rather, was complementary to it.

Option C is incorrect because the research of Lohmann that the passage describes came before that of Putman.

Option D is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that Lohmann’s research corrects Putman’s. In fact, Lohmann’s research that the passage describes came before that of Putman and thus could not possibly “correct” Putman’s later research.