Question 26 (1 point) Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question at the bottom of the box. NOTE: There will be FIVE QUESTIONS for this passage.

Catherine recently heard about a fascinating event. After researching the event and the person responsible for it, she wrote this paper. Read Catherine’s paper and think about the revisions she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.
Fearless Felix

(1) On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager, traveling in an experimental plane known as the X-1, became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. (2) On that same day 65 years later, Felix Baumgartner also reached supersonic speeds, but he became the first person to accomplish this without traveling in a jet or a spacecraft. (3) Instead, Baumgartner was 24 miles above Earth at the time and jumped.

(4) On the day of the jump, Baumgartner donned a flight suit and helmet that had been specifically designed to protect him from the high altitude. (5) Without this gear he wouldn’t be able to survive the awesome temperatures or the thin atmosphere. (6) Next he climbed into a 2,900-pound protective capsule attached to a hot-air balloon that would carry him to the edge of space. (7) After a two and-a-half-hour trip, he reached his target altitude. (8) Then he ran through an extensive checklist. (9) He then opened the door to the capsule, stepped out onto a small ledge, and saluted. (10) “I’m going home now,” Baumgartner announced, and he jumped off the ledge.

(11) More than eight million people watched a live Internet stream that showed Baumgartner plummeting toward Earth. (12) People were able to watch Baumgartner on computers. (13) He spun wildly at first, but fortunately, he soon regained control. (14) For the next few minutes, anxious viewers watched and held their collective breath. (15) At the 5,000-foot mark, Baumgartner opened a parachute to slow his descent to Earth. (16) A little more than nine minutes after jumping out of the capsule, Baumgartner landed safely in the New Mexico desert and lifted his arms in victory. (17) He had succeeded! (18) Not only had he become the first person to break the sound barrier in a free fall, but he had also broken records for the highest manned balloon flight and the highest skydive.

(19) The jump was the culmination of five years of planning and preparation by Baumgartner and his team. (20) Those who were involved say that they hope the data collected will help future aerospace pioneers. (21) However, information obtained from testing the pressurized flight suit and helmet could be used to help pilots, astronauts, and even space tourists who might one day need to quickly evacuate a damaged space vehicle. (22) As for Felix Baumgartner, he insists that he will now retire from the daredevil business. (23) However, one has to wonder how sincere he really is. (24) His plans for the future include piloting helicopters for mountain rescues and firefighting missions!

QUESTION 1: Catherine would like to provide a more detailed thesis statement for her paper. Which of the following could replace sentence 3 and accomplish this goal?
a
Instead, Baumgartner was several miles above the beautiful, majestic Earth at the time that he decided to make a magnificent jump.
b
Instead, Baumgartner was high above Earth—24 miles to be precise—and jumped without a jet or spacecraft of any kind.
c
Instead, Baumgartner, who was 24 miles above Earth at the time, jumped out of a capsule and proceeded to free-fall, traveling at speeds of more than 800 miles per hour.
d
Instead, Baumgartner was 24 miles above Earth at the time, which is quite an amazing distance, and jumped, which is quite an amazing feat.