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Ammonites produced very tiny egg, only a few hundredths of an inch across. The resulting hatchling, or ammonitellae had no means of locomotion; they just floated near the surface of the water, drifting along with the current. Nautiluses, for their part lay very large eggs among the largest of all invertebrates, nearly an inch in diameter.

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Kolbert discusses the extinction of a prehistoric animal, the ammonite. Ammonites resembled the modern-day nautilus in many ways—they had, for example, the same spiral-shaped shells. However, there is evidence to suggest that n...

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Original

Romeo

(aside) She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art though Romeo?
Deny they father and refuse they name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Modern

Romeo

(to himself) She speaks. Speak again, bright angel! For tonight you are as glorious, there up above me, as a winged messenger of heaven who makes mortals fall onto their backs to gaze up with awestruck eyes as he strides across the lazy clouds and sails through the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Why must you be Romeo? Deny your father and give up your name. Or, if you won’t change your name, just swear your love to me and I’ll give up being a Capulet.

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