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Question

Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

The following is a draft of the beginning of a passage about the history of synthetic dyes:

[1] __________________________________________________ Eighteen-year-old chemistry student William Henry Perkin was working in his home laboratory in London, attempting to synthesize quinine, a scarce drug used to treat malaria. Instead of the clear medicine he hoped to produce, his experiments left behind a dark, sludge-like residue. However, when Perkin attempted to wash the beaker with alcohol, he noticed that the substance dissolved to reveal a brilliant, fade-resistant purple hue.

Which of the following sentences, if added at the beginning of the passage, would best introduce the main topic of the passage?

  1. A
    While searching for a synthetic cure for malaria in 1856, which led to the creation of a brilliant purple dye in a home laboratory.
  2. B
    Quinine was a highly sought-after treatment for malaria in the nineteenth century, and many scientists competed to synthesize it.
  3. In 1856, an accidental discovery in a home laboratory transformed both the fashion world and the field of industrial chemistry.Answer
  4. D
    In 1856, William Henry Perkin accidentally created a purple dye in his home laboratory, this discovery eventually launched the modern chemical industry.

Answer

The sentence stating that an accidental discovery in a home laboratory transformed the fashion world and industrial chemistry is the correct choice because it is grammatically complete and establishes the primary focus of the passage.
The correct option is the sentence stating that an accidental discovery in a home laboratory transformed the fashion world and industrial chemistry. This sentence is grammatically sound and successfully introduces the core focus of the passage, which describes William Henry Perkin's accidental synthesis of the first aniline dye (mauveine).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to determine its main topic.
The passage describes how William Henry Perkin was trying to synthesize malaria medicine but accidentally created a brilliant, fade-resistant purple dye.
Understanding the core narrative of the passage is necessary to evaluate which introductory sentence best sets up the topic.
2
Evaluate the grammatical correctness of each option.
One option contains a dependent clause fragment, and another contains a comma splice. This leaves two grammatically correct options.
ACT English questions require sentences to be grammatically correct, so any option containing grammatical errors can be eliminated.
3
Assess the remaining options for their rhetorical suitability as an introduction.
The option focusing on quinine and malaria is off-topic, whereas the option mentioning the accidental discovery in a home laboratory that transformed fashion and industrial chemistry perfectly aligns with the details in the paragraph.
An effective introduction must establish the central theme of the passage rather than focusing on minor background details.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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