‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named, ‘William Henry Perkin’ which is from the Cambridge 9 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘Blanks’ and True/False/Not Given. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 1: William Henry Perkin
| Question | Answer |
| 1 | FALSE |
| 2 | NOT GIVEN |
| 3 | FALSE |
| 4 | TRUE |
| 5 | NOT GIVEN |
| 6 | TRUE |
| 7 | NOT GIVEN |
| 8 | (THE/ONLY) RICH |
| 9 | COMMERCIAL (POSSIBILITIES) |
| 10 | MAUVE (WAS/IS) |
| 11 | (ROBERT) PULLAR |
| 12 | (IN) FRANCE |
| 13 | MALARIA (IS) |
Question 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this more than once.
1. Michael Faraday was the first person to recognize Perkin’s ability as a student of chemistry.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘chemistry’ helps to find an answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘His talent and devotion to the subject were perceived by his teacher, Thomas Hall, who encouraged him to attend a series of lectures given by the eminent scientist Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution…’ Here, this line states that Thomas Hall recognized the talent of Perkin not the Michael Faraday. Thus, the question statement contradicts the passage statement.
Answer: False
‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
2. Michael Faraday suggested Perkin should enroll in the Royal College of Chemistry.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Royal college’ is there in the last line of the paragraph. But there is no information regarding Michal Faraday suggested Perkin to enroll in the Royal college. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
3. Perkin employed August Wilhelm Hofmann as his assistant.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Wilhelm Hofmann’ is there in the first line of the paragraph. ‘At the time of Perkin’s enrollment, the Royal College of Chemistry was headed by the noted German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann Perkin’s scientific gifts soon caught Hofmann’s attention and within two years, he became Hofmann’s youngest assistant …’ This statement clarifies that Wilhelm Hofmann headed the college and Perkin became his assistant. That means Wilhelm was not an assistant. Thus, the question statement is opposite to the passage statement.
Answer: False
‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
4. Perkin was still young when he made the discovery that made him rich and famous.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Perkin’s scientific gifts soon caught Hofmann’s attention and within two years, he became Hofmann’s youngest assistant. Not long after that, Perkin made the scientific breakthrough that would bring him both fame and fortune…’ Here, ‘fame’ and ‘famous’ means the same. Moreover, ‘rich’ and ‘fortune’ are synonyms. ‘Discovery’ has been written as ‘scientific breakthrough’. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: True
5. The trees from which quinine is derived grow only in South America.
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: The main keywords are ‘quinine’ and ‘South America’ and these are in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘At the time, quinine was the only viable medical treatment for malaria. The drug ls derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, native to South America…’ But there is no such information that states that trees from which quinine drives only grow in South America. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
6. Perkin hoped to manufacture a drug from a coal tar waste product.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘coal tar’ helps to find an answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘He was attempting to manufacture quinine from aniline, an inexpensive and readily available coal tar waste product…’ Here, ‘hoped to’ and ‘attempted to’ means the same. Moreover, ‘quinine’ is a drug that he was attempting to manufacture. Thus, the answer is True.
Answer: True
7. Perkin was inspired by the discoveries of the famous scientist Louis Pasteur.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keyword ‘Louis Pasteur’ is there in the middle line of the paragraph. But there is no information regarding Perkin was inspired by the discoveries of the famous scientist. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
Question 8-13
Answer the Questions below:
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
8. Before Perkin’s discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘Indeed, the purple colour extracted from a snail was once so costly that in society at the time only the rich could afford it…’Here, this line means that purple colour was associated with rich people as only rich can afford it. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: The rich
9. What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘But perhaps the most fascinating of all Perkin`s reactions to his find was his nearly instant recognition that the new dye had commercial possibilities…’ Here, ‘instant recognition’ and ‘immediately understand’ means the same. Thus, the statement clarifies the answer.
Answer: Commercial (possibilities)
‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
10. What was the name finally used to refer to the first color Perkin invented?
Location: 8th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘The Perkin originally named his dye Tyrian Purple, but it later became commonly known as mauve (from the French for the plant used to make the colour violet)…’ Here, the writer states that purple color was later known as mauve. Thus, the final name was mauve.
Answer: Mauve
11. What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye works?
Location: 8th paragraph (second line)
Explanation: The writer says, ‘He asked advice of Scottish dye works owner Robert Pullar, who assured him that manufacturing the dye would be well worth it if the colour remained fast (i.e. would not fade) and the cost was relatively low…’ Here, the writer mentions that Perkin took advice from Robert Pullar as he was the dye works owner. Moreover, ‘consulted’ and ‘advice’ means the same.
Answer: Robert Pullar
12. In what country did Perkins newly invented colour first become fashionable?
Location: 9th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘The company received a commercial boost from the Empress Eugenio of France, when she decided the new color flattered her. Very soon, mauve was the necessary shade for all the fashionable ladies in that country…’Here, this statement clarifies that mauve become fashionable among ladies in France. Thus, the country is France.
Answer: France
‘William Henry Perkin’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 9
13. According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using synthetic dyes?
Location: 10th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘And, in what would have been particularly pleasing to Perkin, their current use is in the search for a vaccine against malaria…’Here, ‘current use’ refers to present time (now). They are searching vaccine against malaria that means malaria is being targeted by researchers. Thus, the answer is ‘malaria’.
Answer: Malaria
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