The fossil remains of Sinosauropteryx dinosaur recently discovered in China had a thin layer of outline around its skeletal structure suggesting that it had feathers. But critics state that the most common function of the feathers is to enable flight or to provide insulation. Since flight was not possible because of the enormous structure and weight of the dinosaur and insulation was not possible because of the outline’s position, the outline was not that of feathers but rather of frills.

Which of the following, if true, would, together with the information above, provide the best basis for the claim that the layer of outline is the fossil remains of feathers?

A) There were many other Sinosauropteryx fossils found in Germany that also had the same thin layer of outline.

B) Apart from the above discovery, many scientists believed that Protarchaeopteryx belonging to the same genera as that of Sinosauropteryx had feathers.

C) Many carvings depicting flying dinosaurs especially with structures such as those of Sinosauropteryx were discovered recently.

D) In many animal fossils, fiber from skin tissues form a thin layer of outline around its skeletal structure.

E) The chemical composition revealed that the outline was made of white and orange colors, strongly suggesting the display function of feathers as in peacocks.


OA E

Source: Economist Gmat