While researching a topic,a student has taken the following notes: - Pinnipeds, which include seals sea lions, and walruses , live in and around water. - Pinnipeds are descended not from sea animals but from four-legged, land dwelling carnivores. - Canadian paleobiologist Natalia Rybczynski recently found a fossil with four legs, webbed toes, and the skull and teeth of a seal. - Rybczynski refers to her rare find as a "transitional fossil." - The fossil illustrates an early stage in the evolution of pinnipeds from their land. dwelling ancestors. Mark for Review The student wants to emphasize the fossil's significance Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A Canadian paleobiologist Natalia Ryberynskir's fossil has the skull and teeth of a seal, which, like sea lions and walruses, is a pinniped. B Pinnipeds are descended from four-legged, land-dwelling carmivores,a fossil that resembles both was recently found. C Having four legs but the skull and teeth of a seal, the rare fossil illustrates an early stage in the evolution of pinnipeds from their land-dwelling ancestors. D A "transitional fossil" was recently found by paleobiologist Natalia Rybczynski.

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking us the most effective sentence that emphasizes the significance of the fossil. The fossil is significant because it represents an early stage in the evolution of pinnipeds from their land-dwelling ancestors.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />We need to evaluate each option based on how well it emphasizes the significance of the fossil.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Option A focuses on the fact that the fossil has the skull and teeth of a seal, which is a pinniped. However, it does not emphasize the significance of the fossil in terms of its evolutionary importance.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Option B mentions that pinnipeds are descended from four-legged, land-dwelling carnivores and that a fossil resembling both was recently found. However, it does not emphasize the significance of the fossil in terms of its evolutionary importance.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Option C states that the fossil has four legs but the skull and teeth of a seal, which illustrates an early stage in the evolution of pinnipeds from their land-dwelling ancestors. This option emphasizes the significance of the fossil in terms of its evolutionary importance.<br /><br />## Step 6<br />Option D mentions that a "transitional fossil" was recently found by paleobiologist Natalia Rybczynski. However, it does not emphasize the significance of the fossil in terms of its evolutionary importance.