SAT Question a4f50d30: Words In Context answer and explanation

English - Words In Context - Fill In Blank Single Word
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Scientists previously thought that all electric eels belong to a single species, but a team of researchers led by zoologist C. David de Santana proved this idea wrong by ______ that there are in fact three distinct species of electric eels.
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Difficulty:Easy
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?