medium · SAT Reading & Writing

The discovery of the fossilized remains of a small, feathered dinosaur in Liaoning Province has provided critical evidence for the evolution of flight. Researchers noted that the creature's skeletal structure shared several features with modern birds, such as a fused wishbone and hollow bones. However, its wings were too short to support sustained flight, suggesting that feathers may have initially evolved for thermal regulation or courtship displays rather than for locomotion. Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

1. A long-standing scientific hypothesis is introduced and then conclusively proven by new data.
2. An evidentiary finding is presented, followed by a discussion of its implications for a scientific theory.
3. A detailed physical description of a specimen is provided in order to argue that it is a direct ancestor of modern birds.
4. A hypothesis about the function of feathers is proposed, and a fossil is then described in order to challenge it.

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