Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 0%

The Farallon's are now home to the world's largest population of western gull. Seals have returned, as well as otters and sea lions, which in turn attracts great white sharks. The combination of sharks, underwater currents, and jagged coastline are probably what earned the Farallon's their nickname "Devil's Teeth," though it hasn't stopped a few adventurous people from swimming. Four people have completed the 30-mile swim from the islands to San Francisco; the fastest person completed the journey in 14 hours.

Which of the following pieces of evidence does the author use to speculate why the Farallon Islands are called 'The Devil's Teeth'?

Rationale

The islands have sharks, choppy currents, and a jagged coastline.

The author indicates that the combination of sharks, underwater currents, and the jagged coastline likely contributed to the nickname "Devil's Teeth." This evidence is explicitly provided in the text as a reason for the islands’ ominous name.

A (The islands have sharks, choppy currents, and a jagged coastline.) CORRECT

This choice directly reflects the evidence presented in the extract. The author connects the presence of these dangerous elements to the nickname, suggesting that they contribute to the islands' fearsome reputation.

B (Swimming from San Francisco to the islands is very challenging.) YOUR ANSWER

While the difficulty of swimming from San Francisco to the islands is mentioned, it serves more as an interesting fact rather than evidence for the nickname. The challenging swim does not directly relate to the reasons behind the "Devil's Teeth" moniker, which focuses more on the natural hazards of the islands.

C (In 1863, violence broke out on the islands during a historical event.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice introduces an unrelated historical event that does not support the speculation about the nickname. The passage does not link this violence to the name "Devil's Teeth," making it irrelevant to the question.

D (They have always been called that by sailors who traveled past them.) YOUR ANSWER

This option suggests a historical context but lacks the explanatory evidence the author provides regarding the natural features of the islands. The nickname's origin is not attributed to sailors' accounts in the text, thereby making this choice less relevant.

Conclusion

The evidence for the nickname "Devil's Teeth" lies in the dangerous natural features of the Farallon Islands, including sharks, currents, and rugged coastlines. Choices B, C, and D do not provide relevant support for this speculation, as they either focus on unrelated challenges, historical events, or vague traditions without connecting to the characteristics that inspired the nickname. Thus, the most appropriate evidence is clearly identified in choice A.

Related Questions

View all