Question

The last paragraph of the article states that “American paleontology got a bad reputation from Cope and Marsh’s cutthroat behavior”. Explain why this was true. Cute two pieces of text evidence to support your inference. (Text The Bone Wars by J. R. Hill)

Answer 1

"American paleontology got a bad reputation from Cope and Marsh's cutthroat behavior", states J. R. Hill in the article The Bone Wars and it is true because they were worried about fame and who was a better paleontologist and did not worried about science.

In the text this shows when it says:

"The mistakes they made in the rush for glory slowed the progress of paleontology for many years".

"In addition to sabotaje, Cope and Marsh forced their teams to dig up and transport bones quickly. Such speed damaged many specimens, but each man wanted the credit of making the first discoveries of new species".  

Answer 2

Answer:

The rash and cutthroat behavior of the two paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel marsh gave a bad reputation to the American Paleontology. This is evident in their notorious attempts to sabotage each other's work, criticizing whatever work is produced by the other, even assaulting each other through open letters in newspapers.

Explanation:

J. R Hill's article "The Bone Wars" details the infamous war between two American paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope. The extent of their enmity was such that they even had to write open letters to each other in the newspaper. First starting as friends in the common aim of discovering new fossil and ancient creatures, the betrayal by Marsh led to this long lasting feud. This eventually gave a bad reputation to American paleontology, evidenced by these two quotes-

"The mistakes they made in their rush for glory slowed the progress of paleontology for many years"

"In addition to sabotage, Cope and Marsh forced their teams to dig up and transport bones quickly. Such speed damaged many specimens ...."