When the seismograph began to record the violent earth-shaking caused by yet another eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia, no one thought that a few hours later more than 23,000 people would be dead, killed by lahars (volcanic debris flows) in towns and villages several tens of kilometers away from the volcano.Which sentence below uses parentheses for the same purpose as in the sentence above?A."The intriguing thing about a cell phone is that it is actually a radio (an extremely sophisticated radio), but a radio nonetheless."B."Before beginning the experiment, please read the chemical analyses of the materials you will be using (See Appendix A of the handout.)."C."The first computer, called "The Analytical Engine" (1837), was designed and developed by Charles Babbage."D."In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming discovered that Staphylococcus aureus (parasitic bacteria) could be destroyed by Penicillium."

Paranthesis can be used in a number of ways in a phrase to add further information, explanation or clarification to the phrase itself. This additional information acts in a way that enhances the meaning of the phrase and/or gives the reader a better view of what is being communicated.

Now, in the given example, the information in the paranthesis after the word "lahar" pertains to a simple definition of this word. For readers who do not know what lahar means, this information will help them grasp the phrase better without needing to consult a dictionary.

Lets look at what purpose, the information given in the paranthesis in each option, serves.

Option A: this is incorrect because the it does not provide the definition or meaning of the word "radio". It simply serves the purpose of adding a side remark.

Option B: this is again incorrect because the information in the paranthesis directs the reader to another section. It simply tells the reader which additional section they need to consult in order to proceed.

Option C: this is incorrect because it provides a reference/citation of someone else's work mentioned in the statement.

Option D: the is the correct answer since the content within the paranthesis gives a short explanation of what the word "Staphylococcus aureus" means. It is similar to the given example where a short explanation of the word "lahar" is provided.