Based partially on his comparative studies of the fossils of woolly mammoths and the bones of modern-day elephants, Georges Cuvier proposed several new ideas about the history of life on earth. Which general statement can be made about this example?

Through specific studies, new ideas can be developed.
Scientists always discover new ideas when they study details about living things.
All scientific ideas are made by comparing past and present organisms.
Understanding the past is not important to studying the present.

Obviously the last choice is ridiculous.

Beware of statements that include "always" or "all."

What does that leave?

is it the first one?

The first answer is my choice.

The correct answer is: Through specific studies, new ideas can be developed.

This is because Georges Cuvier's comparative studies of the fossils of woolly mammoths and the bones of modern-day elephants allowed him to propose new ideas about the history of life on earth. By examining specific details and comparing the past organisms (woolly mammoths) with present organisms (modern-day elephants), Cuvier was able to develop new ideas and theories. This example shows that through specific studies, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and potentially generate new insights and ideas.