Question

read the paragraph from the hot zone and the summary that follows it. once the cells in a biological machine stop working, it can never be started again. it goes into a cascade of decay, falling toward disorder and randomness. except in the case of viruses. they can turn off and go dead. then, if they come in contact with a living system, they switch on and multiply. the only thing that \lived\ inside this monkey was the unknown agent, and it was dead, for the time being. it was not multiplying or doing anything, since the monkeys cells were dead. but if the agent touched living cells, nancys cells, it would come alive and begin to amplify itself. in theory, it could amplify itself around the world in the human species. summary of central idea: it is petrifying that even if viruses are dead, they have the potential to \come alive.\ which changes should be made to improve this summary of the paragraphs central idea? select two options. remove the phrase \it is petrifying\ because it expresses a personal feeling. include the detail that there was a dead virus living inside the monkey. remove the detail that viruses can come alive even if they are dead. add the phrase \and spread throughout the human species\ to the end of the statement to more fully express the central idea. add a personal opinion about what may happen if the virus does \come alive.\

Explanation:

1. For the first option: A summary of a central idea should be objective, and "It is petrifying" is a personal feeling, so removing it improves objectivity.
2. For the fourth option: The original paragraph mentions the virus could amplify around the world in the human species, so adding "and spread throughout the human species" makes the central idea (virus potential to come alive and spread) more complete.

The second option's detail is not central to the main idea of virus' ability to reactivate. The third option removes a key detail of the virus' nature. The fifth option adds a personal opinion, which is not suitable for a summary of central idea.

Answer:

A. Remove the phrase "It is petrifying" because it expresses a personal feeling.
D. Add the phrase "and spread throughout the human species" to the end of the statement to more fully express the central idea.