Question

what is an aquarium?
by henry h. ward
the term vivarium was first applied to the vessel containing a collection of specimens of aquatic life. the first vivarium of
spacious kind, in anything like a large scale, was that opened in
public exhibition in the regents park zoological gardens².
henry ward had previously made experiments to ascertain
some better method of preserving aquatic animals in a living
and healthy state. the vivarium, which is the result of those
experiments, may be considered as an imitation of the means
employed by nature herself in the preservation of the various
forms of animal and vegetable life which populate the oceans
and the streams.
the vivarium is, therefore, no recent or sudden discovery, but a
growth of years. its present perfection is the fruit of many
labors in investigations, trials, disappointments, and
endeavors to achieve success.
the term vivarium applies to any collection of animals—to a
pack of wolves, a rabbit warren, a menagerie, or even a traveling
show containing an asthmatic lion, a seedy cockatoo, and a
barrel of snakes that are hourly stirred up with a long pole. for
this reason, such a term could never convey the very special
idea of a vessel containing such specimens as form the stock
of the aquarium. when this was felt, the prefix aqua was
added, to convey the idea of the water medium in which the
creatures are immersed.
this invention led us to the word aqua-vivarium, a compound of
too clumsy a character to remain long in use. it is the water that
gives the collection its special character, and water always
reminds us of old aquarius³, who treats us to an annual
showering from his celestial watering pot. naturally, people
wanted to give the place where they kept their confined watery
companions aquarius name, an aquarium. the term that
represents our ideal aquarian tank. since it is shorter to finish than
select the correct answer.
how does the author connect vivariums and aquariums in this excerpt?
a. she explains how the term aquarium grew from the word vivarium.
b. she argues that zoos should be filled with aquariums rather than vivariums.
c. she indicates that vivarium is a clumsier term than aquarium and should not be used.
d. she describes why vivariums are better vessels for fish than aquariums.

Explanation:

The text explains the origin of the term "aquarium". It mentions that the term "vivarium" was first used for a collection of aquatic life. Then, the prefix "aqua" was added to convey the idea of the water medium. This shows how "aquarium" grew from "vivarium".

Answer:

A. She explains how the term aquarium grew from the word vivarium.