The newly conceived exhibits treated the solar system in a way that was without precedent for public institutions, even though murmurs had already begun in the planetary science community that something needed to be done about Pluto's classification in the solar system. Which paraphrase of this idea best maintains its formal tone?

Scientists had begun to debate privately whether or not Pluto is a plant, but this was the first time the concept was presented in a museum for all to see

The correct answer is "The newly conceived exhibits treated the solar system in a way that was without precedent for public institutions."

In literature, paraphrasing is the literary device used to express a statement in another while keeping the idea or the essence of what was trying to be said.

This excerpt is divided into 2 parts. The first one of these paraphrases is written in a more formal tone as it makes a statement by saying that newly conceived exhibits have brought new ideas to the community. On the other hand, the second phrase seems to be a form of gossip when it refers to the ever-increasing debate about Pluto.