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Question

Difficulty: HardEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

[1] ____________________. [2] In 2009, chemist Mas Subramanian and his team at Oregon State University were researching materials with novel electronic properties. [3] They mixed black manganese oxide with other chemicals and heated them to nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. [4] To their astonishment, one of the samples emerged from the furnace as a brilliant, intense blue. [5] Named YInMn Blue after its constituent elements—yttrium, indium, and manganese—this pigment was the first new inorganic blue discovered in over two hundred years.

YInMn Blue possesses remarkable structural qualities that make it highly useful. The pigment's crystal structure allows it to reflect infrared light, keeping surfaces cool when painted with it. Furthermore, it is exceptionally durable, safe to produce, and resistant to fading, unlike historical pigments like Prussian blue or ultramarine.

The writer is considering beginning the passage with one of the following sentences. Which choice most effectively introduces the main topic of the passage?

  1. Throughout history, artists and scientists have struggled to find stable, non-toxic blue pigments that do not easily fade over time.Answer
  2. B
    Although scientists have spent centuries attempting to synthesize a stable blue pigment, a quest that has historically been plagued by toxicity and fading.
  3. C
    While many pigments are derived from organic sources; inorganic pigments must be synthesized through high-temperature chemical reactions.
  4. D
    Early artists relied heavily on ground lapis lazuli to create blue paint, it was an extremely expensive import from the mines of Afghanistan.

Answer

Throughout history, artists and scientists have struggled to find stable, non-toxic blue pigments that do not easily fade over time.
The correct choice introduces the passage by establishing the historical difficulty of finding stable, non-toxic, and fade-resistant blue pigments. This sets up the context for the accidental discovery of YInMn Blue in the first paragraph, and directly connects to the description of YInMn Blue's superior safety, durability, and fading resistance in the second paragraph. It is also grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to determine its main focus.
The passage describes the accidental discovery of YInMn Blue in 2009, highlighting that it was the first new inorganic blue in over 200 years. The second paragraph focuses on its durability, safety, and resistance to fading compared to historical pigments.
An effective introduction must establish the core themes discussed throughout the entire passage.
2
Evaluate the choices for grammatical correctness.
The option beginning with 'Although' is a sentence fragment. The option beginning with 'While' incorrectly uses a semicolon to separate a dependent clause. The option beginning with 'Early artists' is a comma splice. Only the option starting with 'Throughout history' is grammatically correct.
ACT English questions require the correct choice to be grammatically sound.
3
Evaluate the grammatically correct option for rhetorical fit.
The sentence beginning with 'Throughout history' introduces the themes of stability, toxicity, and fading in blue pigments, which directly connects to the description of YInMn Blue's qualities in the passage.
This establishes the historical context and main thesis, making it the most effective introduction.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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