Percival Lowell and Pluto Sometimes you don’t find what you’re looking for, but you find something even more remarkable. Percival Lowell spent years looking for evidence of life on Mars, and in that pursuit, he found evidence of a new planet—Planet X as he termed it. Planet X would turn out to be Pluto, the ninth and smallest planet in our solar system until it was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006. The story of Lowell and Pluto is one of scientific innovation and science’s continual need to verify its findings and, when necessary, correct its mistakes. Which is the BEST summary of the passage?

Options

• A1. After Lowell discovered Pluto, the discovery of Eris led to questions about Pluto’s status as a planet.
• B2. Lowell’s dedication to planetary study inspired Americans’ interest in space.
• C3. The Lowell Observatory was a leader in astronomical discovery.
• D4. Lowell’s study of Mars eventually led to the discovery of Pluto, which was later downgraded to a dwarf planet.

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