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Question

Difficulty: MediumSentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

The writer is considering deleting Sentence 5 from the following paragraph:

[1] In 1856, eighteen-year-old chemistry student William Henry Perkin was attempting to synthesize quinine, a drug used to treat malaria, in his home laboratory. [2] Instead of the clear medicine he hoped for, Perkin produced a dark, sticky sludge in his beaker. [3] Cleaning the flask with alcohol, he noticed that the substance dissolved into a vibrant, purple liquid. [4] This accidental byproduct, which he named mauveine, became the world's first mass-produced synthetic organic dye. [5] Prior to Perkin’s discovery, purple clothing was a luxury reserved exclusively for royalty because the dye had to be painstakingly harvested from thousands of marine snails. [6] Recognizing the commercial potential of his creation, Perkin quickly patented the process and established a factory to manufacture the dye.

Should Sentence 5 be kept or deleted?

  1. Kept, because it provides historical context that explains why a mass-produced synthetic purple dye was so significant.Answer
  2. B
    Kept, because it describes the chemical composition of natural dyes compared to synthetic dyes like mauveine.
  3. C
    Deleted, because it interrupts the narrative flow by shifting the focus to the fashion preferences of royalty.
  4. D
    Deleted, because it duplicates information about the commercial production of mauveine that is introduced in Sentence 6.

Answer

The sentence should be kept because it provides historical context that explains why a mass-produced synthetic purple dye was so significant.
The correct choice is to keep the sentence because it establishes crucial historical context. By explaining that natural purple dye was extremely rare and expensive—requiring harvesting from marine snails—the sentence explains why Perkin's affordable, mass-produced synthetic alternative was such a revolutionary development.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the content of the proposed sentence for deletion.
Sentence 5 explains that before Perkin's discovery, purple clothing was an expensive luxury because the natural dye had to be painstakingly harvested from marine snails.
Understanding the specific details in the sentence helps determine if it adds value or distracts from the paragraph's main point.
2
Evaluate the relevance of the sentence to the paragraph's main idea.
The paragraph is about Perkin's accidental invention of mauveine, the first mass-produced synthetic dye. Sentence 5 explains the high cost and rarity of purple dye before this invention, which directly highlights the historical significance and impact of Perkin's cheap synthetic alternative.
A sentence should be kept if it provides essential transition, historical context, or supporting details for the main theme.
3
Select the correct decision and logical justification.
The sentence must be kept, and the correct justification is that it provides historical context showing the significance of the invention.
This matches the choice that suggests keeping the sentence to show why a mass-produced synthetic dye was so important.

Key Concept

Sentence Addition and Deletion Decisions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Sentence Addition and Deletion Decisions

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