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Craft and StructureEasy–MediumFunction of a sentence stating a consequence

Craft and Structure practice question

Hummingbirds beat their wings up to eighty times a second. That effort burns so much energy that a hummingbird must eat roughly half its body weight in sugar every day. To survive the night without feeding, it lowers its body temperature and enters a sleep-like state called torpor.

Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence?

  1. A. It states a consequence of the fact given in the first sentence.Correct
  2. B. It presents an exception to the claim in the first sentence.
  3. C. It describes the solution that the third sentence then explains.
  4. D. It casts doubt on the accuracy of the first sentence.

Answer: A. It states a consequence of the fact given in the first sentence.

'That effort' refers to the wingbeats; the second sentence says what they cost — a huge food requirement. It's a consequence of sentence one.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. It presents an exception to the claim in the first sentence.
Nothing is excepted; the second sentence follows directly from the first.
C. It describes the solution that the third sentence then explains.
The second sentence sets up the PROBLEM (energy need); the third sentence gives the solution (torpor).
D. It casts doubt on the accuracy of the first sentence.
The second sentence builds on the first rather than questioning it.

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