Read the excerpt from "Bone Detective," by Lorraine Jean Hopping. Diane picked up one of the skull casts in her lab and held it up to her visitors to see. She pointed out two rounded gaps in the teeth on either side of the jaw.

"This guy smoked a pipe,” she explained. "He started on one side and then, when the pipe ground down the teeth, he had to switch to the other.”

Which statement best describes Hopping’s viewpoint and purpose in this excerpt?

A. The author views Diane as a clever scientist and includes this excerpt to inform readers about Diane’s sharp reasoning skills.

B. The author views Diane as a thoughtful scientist and includes this excerpt to encourage readers to develop their minds.

C. The author views Diane as a humorous scientist and includes this excerpt to entertain readers with funny stories.

D. The author views Diane as a skillful scientist and includes this excerpt to persuade readers to use scientific techniques to solve problems.