I have always loved learning about pre-history, specifically the animals that existed before humans came along. And not just dinosaurs, although those are fun to learn about. I love learning about the first forms of life, like the first fish, the first reptiles, the first amphibians, and the first birds. Through learning about these early life forms, I have become well acquainted with Darwin's Theory of Evolution. And anyone who learns about the Theory of Evolution knows that evolution is a slow process. If that is to be believed, then the Cambrian Explosion, a time period where rapid evolution caused multiple species to come into existence, should never have happened. The article in the Huffington post claims that the rapid evolution might have been caused by the separating of Laurentia and Gondwanaland, two ancient continents during the Cambrian. According to the article, the splitting of the continents caused "water [to be] displaced by the shift flooded land areas, creating an ideal environment for new species to flourish" (Huffington 1).
The article supported this theory with expert testimonials from Dr. Ian Dalziel of the University of Texas' Institute for Geophysics. Since he was the one who came up with the theory, his word should be trusted. Also, the article uses a diagram to show how the continents were arranged and how they drifted apart. As a visual learner, I can better visualize something if a picture is displayed. It better explains the purpose of the article, past the simply textual rhetoric. Also, by addressing the problems raised by this question, namely why this theory has not been figured out until now, it helps to strengthen the argument. When the argument is disproved, it makes the main argument seem more trustworthy and credible. I loved reading a news story that has given a possible answer to a question plaguing me since I was 6.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/19/darwins-dilemma-solved_n_6178504.html?utm_hp_ref=science
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