Consider the following passage: SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. — Traces of a rare element found in Antarctic and Greenland ice suggest a nearby star blew up 35,000 years ago, zapping the Earth with radiation that could have speeded evolution, a researcher said yesterday. The supernova was located in our own galaxy only 150 light years, or 880 trillion miles, from Earth. That is closer than any other known exploding star, said astrophysicist Grant E. Kocharov, vice chairman of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Cosmic Ray Council. By comparison, a 1987 supernova that was the closest exploding star seen by scientists in 400 years was 1,000 times more distant and located in another galaxy entirely.

When stars explode as supernovas, the incredible blasts produce a wide variety of radiation, including powerful cosmic rays, which continually strike the entire Earth. When cosmic rays enter Earth's atmosphere over the poles, they can smash into nitrogen and oxygen molecules and produce beryllium-10, a metallic element that then falls from the atmosphere and is incorporated in the polar ice sheets.

Kocharov drilled ice cores at the Dye 3 and Camp Century research stations in Greenland and the Vostok, Byrd, and Dome C stations in Antarctica. He found the amount of beryllium-10 was doubled in ice that formed 35,000 years ago, at what is now about 2,000 feet below the surface. This indicates that a powerful supernova exploded nearby about 35,000 years ago, doubling the cosmic radiation bombarding Earth, Kocharov said during the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting. Furthermore, supernova remnants of about the same age are still detectable in space, suggesting they and the increased cosmic rays came from an exploding star 150 light years away, he added. Cosmic rays are so energetic they can break chemical bonds in living cells, causing cancer and mutations.

I think a reasonable bare bones paraphrase of the substance of the passage would be something like:

Based on chemical analysis of polar ice, it seems there was a supernova close to Earth about 35,000 years ago.

Given this bare bones paraphrase, you can see I omitted some detail I thought dispensable. Select any of the following that I've implicitly categorized as dispensable detail.

Question options:

That the next closest supernova scientists had known about was 1,000 times more distant than this one

That the rare element was beryllium-10

That the supernova was located in our galaxy about 150 light years away

That beryllium-10 is produced when cosmic rays enter Earth's atmosphere and smash into nitrogen and oxygen molecules

That the researcher was Grant E. Kocharov of the Russian Academy of Sciences

That the amount of beryllium-10 was doubled in ice formed 35,000 years ago

modern day technological advancements are constantly seen throughout every aspect of life. cell phones, portable internet availability, laptop computers, ipods, mp3 players of every brand, and many other devices, are everywhere. they seem to possess unending possible detriments, but, along with such issues, technology also has positive impacts on today’s youth. in some situations, the internet and ipod prevent sociability, though in others they may be the cause of increased social activity. overall, modern technology has the capability to bring people together as well as enhance the social abilities of the today’s youth; however, if used without discretion, can also create a less interactive generation, frequently depending on technology for contentment.  

the immense capabilities of the internet today are astonishing, and offer many positive opportunities for teens. primarily, the internet makes sharing information fast and simple, despite factors that in other cases would prohibit such simple distribution. according to jean-francois coget in source c, “with the internet, information can be transmitted and received with ease at any time of the day to and from any number of friends.” it is possible to send videos, pictures, papers, projects, and a quantity of other things with the click of a button. the transfer can happen in seconds. the amazing capability of modern day internet simplifies teenage life, by providing a way to convey knowledge. another way in which internet proves positive is by providing a way to keep in touch with friends and family worldwide, or just across town. whether it’s a friend that switched schools and is never around, or a family member in london, the internet makes it possible to email, instant message, and even video chat. such qualities of internet communication bring people together with more frequent contact, boosting sociability and relationships. in addition, the internet also has the capability to, “foster openness, self-confidence, and a greater sense of ease, and comfort in dealing with others” (source c). since it is not obligatory to reveal physical appearance or social status over the internet, it grants an opportunity to be a completely new person, who is entirely open and confident. internet chats, even with mere acquaintances, can supply a chance for socially challenged teens to experience a form of social interaction, in order to create a sense of composure. modern day internet advancements not only offer an easier way to share information, but also contribute to sociability by providing a way to communicate with distant friends and family, as well as giving socially challenged teenagers an opportunity for interaction.

likewise, another modern day technology, the ipod, may also have a positive effect on some teenagers, by presenting a different view of the world as well as uniting individuals through musical taste. in the eyes of kelly doyle-mace, in source d, “music deepens the experience of walking through the world, rather than detracting from it.” there are millions of songs out there, one to match every possible mood. sometimes, turning on just the right song can be motivational and provide a completely new outlook on a certain circumstance. in addition, lyrics are often relatable to personal life and can be significant or simply encouraging. another way in which ipods and personal musical taste is a positive effect on teens is by uniting people of different backgrounds and diversities through their music choice. lisa and johnny rocket, hosts of “ipod dj nights,” describe that one night a month they invite guests to bring their ipods to a london bar. where they can play whatever songs they choose (source d). “even more diverse than the music are the members… the ipod acts to bring people together,” lisa explains (source d). these gatherings prove that as diverse as music can be, it is also unifying. the multitudes of people attending these parties, from every race background and belief, are united through their assorted music taste. ipods have the potential to positively affect today’s youth by matching any and every mood with music, resulting in a deeper walk through life, as well as bringing people together by means of musical interest.

the alternative argument is that the internet can be a significantly negative influence on teenagers, if overused. constant internet use detracts time that could be spent with friends and family. hours wasted away typing useless messages is detrimental to personal relationships with the ones who really matter. it was discovered through a study in pittsburgh that people who use the internet most often are “spending less time talking with their families…keeping up with fewer friends” (source b). it is of no use to spend so much time talking to people over the internet, when one could just as easily walk down the stairs and spend time with family, or go to see friends instead. according to source

what’s your question?

many battles and wars (such as the one at gettysburg), are commemorated by statues or monuments, with some areas preserved as monuments and national parks. do you think this contradicts the message of "grass"? in at least 200 words, explain your thinking and cite evidence from the poem to support your opinion.