Excerpt from The Pet Cloning Controversy Sean Putman 6 Cloning also brings many pet owners great joy. Nicky was a beloved Maine Coon cat owned by a woman in Texas named Julie. Nicky’s owner was devastated when he passed away in 2004. Thanks to cloning, Julie has a new special friend. She says that Little Nicky is healthy and happy. Besides looking just like the first Nicky, Little Nicky shares some of his distinctive behaviors—proving the wonders of cloning. This includes an unusual fascination with water. 7 There is also the well-documented story of Missy, the Border collie-husky mix. Missy’s owner missed her so much that he founded a company that helps private citizens clone their pets. Fifteen years after Missy’s passing, Mira was born. Mira bears a striking resemblance to Missy and behaves just like her as well. Two additional Missy clones, Chingu and Sarang, live with family members and often visit their “twin sister” Mira. Which idea is BEST supported by the information in sections six and seven? A) Cloning results cannot be predicted. B) Cloning promotes scientific research. C) Cloning should be available to all pet lovers. D) Emotions motivate pet lovers to clone their pets.

The excerpt focuses on "The Pet Cloning Controversy" due to the emotional attachment of the owners to their pets. It illustrates the point with the example of Nick who's owner was shattered after its demise in 2004 but cloning proposed them new hope in the form of Julie("little Nicky"). This example exemplifies the intense emotional affiliation of the owners to their pets that they decided to clone their pets to gratify their emotional needs as they miss their pets so much. Thus, we may conclude the best-substantiated and supported information is provided in option D as it correctly and effectively depicts the central idea of the passage, i.e. "emotions have motivated the pet lovers and owners to clone their pets."