Final answer:
The sentence 'The invention of the telescope allowed us to see the vastness of the universe' best illustrates how new discoveries can alter our understanding of the world by expanding our knowledge of the cosmos and changing our perception of our place in it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which sentence best develops the theme that new discoveries can change the way we see the world?' asks us to identify which sentence out of the four given provides the best example of how new discoveries have the power to profoundly shift our perspective on our environment and our understanding of it. In reviewing the options, we see that:
- The invention of the telescope expanded our knowledge of the cosmos, altering our perception of our place in the universe.
- The discovery of DNA provided a foundational shift in our understanding of genetics and biological inheritance.
- The development of the internet completely transformed global communication and information access, making it instant and borderless.
- The exploration of deep-sea ecosystems shed light on the intricate diversity of life on our own planet.
Each of these milestones marks a significant change in our understanding; however, the sentence that captures the essence of how new discoveries can change our worldview in a broad sense is (1) 'The invention of the telescope allowed us to see the vastness of the universe.' This statement succinctly reflects a monumental shift in our cosmic perspective.