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Question

Difficulty: MediumPrimary Purpose of the Whole Text

In the mid-nineteenth century, chemistry was largely viewed as an academic discipline focused on isolating and cataloging natural compounds. This changed dramatically in 1856 when eighteen-year-old chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally synthesized mauveine, the first synthetic organic dye, while attempting to create an artificial treatment for malaria. Recognizing the commercial potential of the vibrant purple substance, Perkin patented the process and established a factory to mass-produce it. This pioneering venture not only revolutionized the textile industry by providing affordable, consistent colorants but also transformed the field of chemistry itself. By demonstrating that valuable organic compounds could be constructed in a laboratory rather than merely extracted from nature, Perkin’s breakthrough laid the foundation for the modern chemical industry and catalyzed a new era of applied scientific research.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A
    To argue that Perkin’s primary objective in his research was to find a more cost-effective way to dye textiles.
  2. To explain how an accidental discovery transformed the field of chemistry from an academic pursuit into an applied industry.Answer
  3. C
    To provide a detailed description of the laboratory methods used to synthesize organic chemical compounds.
  4. D
    To analyze the global economic dominance of the nineteenth-century textile industry.

Answer

To explain how an accidental discovery transformed the field of chemistry from an academic pursuit into an applied industry.
The correct option best states the main purpose because it summarizes the overall narrative arc of the passage: the transition of chemistry from an academic, cataloging field to an applied industry, initiated by Perkin's accidental discovery of mauveine.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage to identify the main topic and the author's primary goal.
The passage discusses how chemistry was historically academic, how William Henry Perkin accidentally created the first synthetic dye, and how this event transformed chemistry into an applied science and birthed the modern chemical industry.
Understanding the overall arc of the passage helps distinguish the primary purpose from minor details.
2
Evaluate the answer choices against the overall focus of the text.
The correct option captures this shift from academic to applied chemistry. The other options either misstate explicit details, focus on non-existent technical descriptions, or generalize the topic too broadly.
This step eliminates distractors that represent common misreadings or overly broad interpretations.

Key Concept

Primary Purpose of the Whole Text
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Primary Purpose of the Whole Text

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