Read the excerpt from "The New Marvel in Photography" by H. J. W. Dam.

Question

In all the history of scientific discovery there has never been, perhaps, so general, rapid, and dramatic an effect wrought on the scientific centres of Europe as has followed, in the past four weeks, upon an announcement made to the Würzburg Physico-Medical Society, at their December meeting, by Professor William Konrad Röntgen, professor of physics at the Royal University of Würzburg. The first news which reached London was by telegraph from Vienna to the effect that a Professor Röntgen, until then the possessor of only a local fame in the town mentioned, had discovered a new kind of light, which penetrated and photographed through everything. This news was received with a mild interest, some amusement, and much incredulity; and a week passed. Then, by mail and telegraph, came daily clear indications of the stir which the discovery was making in all the great line of universities between Vienna and Berlin. Then Röntgen's own report arrived, so cool, so business-like, and so truly scientific in character, that it left no doubt either of the truth or of the great importance of the preceding reports. . . .

Exactly what kind of a force Professor Röntgen has discovered he does not know. As will be seen below, he declines to call it a new kind of light, or a new form of electricity. He has given it the name of the X rays.

Which statement correctly describes how the central idea of this excerpt is developed?

It is stated directly in the beginning of the excerpt and developed throughout the text.
It is stated directly in the middle of the excerpt and developed in the remaining text.
It is hinted at throughout the text, but the reader is expected to figure it out.
It is revealed through a sequence of events and defined at the end of the text.

Answer 1

The correct statement that describes how the central idea of this excerpt is developed is:

It is stated directly in the beginning of the excerpt and developed throughout the text.

The excerpt starts with the announcement of Röntgen's discovery of a new kind of light (the X rays) and develops the significance and impact of this discovery as it progresses.