medium · SAT Reading & Writing

Paleontologist Dr. Elena Kovacs recently analyzed a set of fossilized footprints discovered in a siltstone bed. While earlier researchers interpreted these tracks as evidence of a predatory pursuit, Kovacs suggests they actually represent a communal migration. Her analysis of the stride length and spacing indicates that the animals were moving at a steady, rhythmic pace rather than the erratic bursts characteristic of a hunt. Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence ("While earlier researchers… communal migration") as a whole?

1. It contrasts a previous interpretation with a new hypothesis based on recent analysis.
2. It describes the physical properties of the siltstone bed where the footprints were found.
3. It provides evidence that Kovacs's analysis is more accurate than that of the earlier researchers.
4. It confirms that the animals were engaged in a rhythmic hunt rather than a steady migration.

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