A Fascinating Discovery Read through the draft of an arti

Which revision of the highlighted portion is most effective and grammatically correct - HiSET Prep

Question

A Fascinating Discovery

Read through the draft of an article about the discovery of a new species of titi monkey. Then go on to the suggestions for revision that follow. The numbered sentences in paragraph 1 are for use in answering questions.

(1} Titi monkeys are small fruit eating primates that live near water in dense forests. {2} They were first discovered in 1903. {3) This was in the Amazon Rainforest. {4) Since then, many different and various species have been found in that area. (5} The territory of a particular species is usually surrounded by rivers. {6) The titi does not swim, so an entire species live in a limited area. (7) Consequently, the number in each species is quite small. (8} In 2010, a group of Brazilian primatologists spotted a fascinating new monkey on the west bank of the Roosevelt River in the Amazon.

(2) However, especially in the early morning, like other titis, they engaged in frequent communal calling. Scientists think these calls help to create group cohesion. The calling is most intense in the rainy season, and their favorite trees are in fruit. It is probably a tactic to protect the fruit.

(3) They were finding that these monkeys are very much like their titi cousins in other parts of the Amazon. Their habitat is in a tropical forest, and they live primarally in the lower area called the undercanopy. The trees in this area are about fifty feet tall. The monkeys eat mostly the fruit of local trees, such as the Inga. Their fur is long and soft, and easily they jump from one tree branch to another. Their groups are small. Two to five monkeys live together. There is usually an adult pair also two or three offspring. Scientists have viewed adult titis carrying babies while searching for fruit. Because like other titis they do not swim they are confined by the rivers that surround their habitat. However, they differ from other titis in their bright coloring. In addition these new titis, to the strikingly colored tail also have orange-brown sideburns and bellies and a light gray forehead stripe.

(4) {C21}It was named Callicebus miltoni in honor of Dr. Milton Thiago de Mello. Dr. de Mello founded the primatology program at the University of Brasilia. He was also one of the creators of the Brazilian Primatology Society. The findings of the research group were published in a Brazilian zoological journal. The co-author Dr. Felipe Silva expressed his excitement about the discovery of the new species saying, "It is always thrilling to find something new in the Amazon, as it reminds us just how special this rainforest is and how lucky we are to have it on our doorstep." At the time of the discovery, thirty-one species of titi monkeys were recognized.

(5)This unusual monkey had coloring that did not match any known species. Intrigued by the monkey's orange tail, a group of specialists from several Brazilian primatology institutes formed a group to investigate. {C22 } The monkeys were running away whenever they were aware someone was watching. They were very shy. This made it difficult.

Which revision of the highlighted portion is most effective and grammatically correct?

Answers

No change
correct
fruit-eating primates
fruit eating-primates
fruit-eating-primates

Explanation

The Correct Answer is: B. fruit-eating primates
A hyphen is required in a compound adjective when two words work together to modify a noun, such as “fruit-eating” modifying “primates.” This revision improves clarity and correctness without overusing hyphens. The phrase becomes more professional and grammatically precise, making the sentence read smoothly while maintaining the intended meaning of describing what kind of primates titi monkeys are.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. No change
The original phrasing “fruit eating primates” lacks the necessary hyphen between “fruit” and “eating.” Without the hyphen, the words do not function together as a compound adjective, which can lead to misreading or ambiguity. Since “fruit-eating” describes the type of primates, a hyphen is needed for grammatical accuracy and clarity in academic or scientific writing.
C. fruit eating-primates
This option places the hyphen incorrectly between “eating” and “primates,” which is not standard usage. The phrase “fruit-eating” is the compound modifier, while “primates” is the noun being modified. Hyphenating before “primates” suggests a compound noun rather than a descriptive phrase. As a result, the structure becomes confusing and does not follow accepted hyphenation rules.
D. fruit-eating-primates This choice over-hyphenates the phrase, implying that all three words form a single compound noun. This construction is unnecessary and nonstandard in scientific descriptions. Only “fruit-eating” should be hyphenated because it is the modifier. Adding another hyphen before “primates” disrupts readability and alters the conventional structure of compound adjectives in academic writing.