Part A

Question

How does the author of “Make Your Own Microscope” support the claim that one does not need special skills to make a smartphone microscope?

Responses

She explains how much the project taught her as she researched microscopes.
She explains how much the project taught her as she researched microscopes.

The author describes her personal experience building a smartphone microscope.
The author describes her personal experience building a smartphone microscope.

The author tells the story of going to the mall to replace a broken microscope.
The author tells the story of going to the mall to replace a broken microscope.

She lists inexpensive materials that one needs to make a smartphone microscope.
She lists inexpensive materials that one needs to make a smartphone microscope.
Question 2
Part B

Which evidence from the text supports the answer to Part A?

Responses

“Believe me, I’m not a mechanical whiz. I can barely pump up the tires on my bike. So, if I can do this, anyone can do it.”
“Believe me, I’m not a mechanical whiz. I can barely pump up the tires on my bike. So, if I can do this, anyone can do it.”

“But when I stopped into a store called Science Adventure, I was stunned by what I found. The microscope my sister broke costs $144.99! I’m 11 years old. I don’t have that kind of money.”
“But when I stopped into a store called Science Adventure, I was stunned by what I found. The microscope my sister broke costs $144.99! I’m 11 years old. I don’t have that kind of money.”

“For example, I learned that lasers were first created as 'an outgrowth of a suggestion made by Albert Einstein' more than 100 years ago (Hecht).”
“For example, I learned that lasers were first created as 'an outgrowth of a suggestion made by Albert Einstein' more than 100 years ago (Hecht).”

“The only supplies I needed were a laser pointer, a bit of poster tack, a flashlight, some white paper, and clear plastic (Emerson).”
“The only supplies I needed were a laser pointer, a bit of poster tack, a flashlight, some white paper, and clear plastic (Emerson).”

Answer 1

Part A

The best response to support the claim that one does not need special skills to make a smartphone microscope is:

The author describes her personal experience building a smartphone microscope.

Part B

The evidence from the text that supports this response is:

“Believe me, I’m not a mechanical whiz. I can barely pump up the tires on my bike. So, if I can do this, anyone can do it.”

This statement illustrates that the author does not possess specialized mechanical skills yet still successfully built a smartphone microscope, reinforcing the claim that the project is accessible to anyone.