Which paragraph contains the following information?
The Shock of the Truth
A. Throughout history, there have been instances in which people have been unwilling to accept new theories, despite startling evidence. This was certainly the case when Copernicus published his theory - that the earth was not the centre of the universe.
B. Until the early 16th century, western thinkers believed the theory put forward by Ptolemy, an Egyptian living in Alexandria in about 150 A.D. His theory, which was formulated by gathering and organizing the thoughts of the earlier thinkers, proposed that the universe was a closed space bounded by a spherical envelope beyond which there was nothing. The earth, according to Ptolemy, was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the universe. The sun and the stars, revolved around it.
C. The theory appealed to human nature. Someone making casual observations as they looked into the sky might come to a similar conclusion. It also fed the human ego. Humans could believe that they were at the centre of God's universe, and the sun and stars were created for their benefit.
D. Ptolemy's theory, was of course, incorrect, but at the time nobody contested it. European astronomers were more inclined to save face. Instead of proposing new ideas, they attempted to patch up and refine Ptolemy's flawed model. Students were taught using a book called The Sphere which had been written two hundred years previously. In short, astronomy failed to advance.
E. In 1530, however, Mikolaj Kopernik, more commonly known as Copernicus, made an assertion which shook the world. He proposed that the earth turned on its axis once per day, and travelled around the sun once per year. Even when he made his discovery, he was reluctant to make it public, knowing how much his shocking revelations would disturb the church. However, George Rheticus, a German mathematics professor who had become Copernicus's student, convinced Copernicus to publish his ideas, even though Copernicus, a perfectionist, was never satisfied that his observations were complete.
F. Copernicus's ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of the time. Humans, it was believed, were made in God's image, and were superior to all creatures. The natural world had been created for humans to exploit. Copernicus's theories contradicted the ideas of all the powerful churchmen of the time. Even the famous playwright William Shakespeare feared the new theory, pronouncing that it would destroy social order and bring chaos to the world. However, Copernicus never had to suffer at the hands of those who disagreed with his theories. He died just after the work was published in 1543.
G. However, the scientists who followed in Copernicus's footsteps bore the brunt of the church's anger. Two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, agreed wholeheartedly with the Copernican theory. Bruno even dared to say that space was endless and contained many other suns, each with its own planets. For this, Bruno was sentenced to death by burning in 1600. Galileo, famous for his construction of the telescope, was forced to deny his belief in the Copernican theories. He escaped capital punishment, but was imprisoned for the rest of his life.
H. In time however, Copernicus's work became more accepted. Subsequent scientists and mathematicians such as Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus's work as a starting point and used it to glean further truths about the laws of celestial mechanics.
I. The most important aspect of Copernicus' work is that it forever changed the place of man in the cosmos. With Copernicus' work, man could no longer take that premier position which the theologians had immodestly assigned him. This was the first, but certainly not the last time in which man would have to accept his position as a mere part of the universe, not at the center of it.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | the public’s reaction to the new theory | |||||||||
| 2 | an ancient belief about the position of the earth | |||||||||
| 3 | Copernicus’s legacy to the future of science | |||||||||
| 4 | How academics built on Copernican ideas | |||||||||
| 5 | An idea which is attractive to humans | |||||||||
| 6 | Out-dated teaching and defective research | |||||||||
| 7 | Scientists suffer for their beliefs |
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Finding where people's response to Copernicus's theory is described
Why this is correct: Paragraph F describes how Copernicus's ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of the time. It shows that powerful churchmen opposed it and even Shakespeare feared the new theory. This is clearly the public's reaction to the new theory.
Passage Reference: Copernicus's ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of the time. Humans, it was believed, were made in God's image, and were superior to all creatures. The natural world had been created for humans to exploit. Copernicus's theories contradicted the ideas of all the powerful churchmen of the time. Even the famous playwright William Shakespeare feared the new theory, pronouncing that it would destroy social order and bring chaos to the world.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph E because Copernicus is reluctant to publish, but that is his own hesitation, not the public's reaction. This is a context shift trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'went against all the political and religious beliefs' = Statement: 'the public's reaction'
Tips: When looking for 'reaction', find the paragraph where other people respond to the theory, not where the theory is first stated.
Key Vocabulary:
- contradicted = went against
- pronounced = declared publicly
Question Focus: Finding where the old theory about Earth's position is explained
Passage Reference: Until the early 16th century, western thinkers believed the theory put forward by Ptolemy, an Egyptian living in Alexandria in about 150 A.D. The earth, according to Ptolemy, was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the universe. The sun and the stars, revolved around it.
Why this is correct: Paragraph B explains Ptolemy's theory from 150 A.D. that the earth was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the universe. This is clearly the ancient belief about Earth's position.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph C because it mentions people looking at the sky. But C explains why the belief was attractive, not what it was. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'the earth was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre' = Statement: 'an ancient belief about the position of the earth'
Tips: Words like 'ancient' or 'old' point you to paragraphs about earlier time periods and historical theories.
Key Vocabulary:
- immobile = not moving
- formulated = developed formally
Question Focus: Finding where Copernicus's long-term impact on science is described
Passage Reference: The most important aspect of Copernicus' work is that it forever changed the place of man in the cosmos. With Copernicus' work, man could no longer take that premier position which the theologians had immodestly assigned him. This was the first, but certainly not the last time in which man would have to accept his position as a mere part of the universe, not at the center of it.
Why this is correct: Paragraph I explains that Copernicus's work forever changed the place of man in the cosmos. It says this was the first time man had to accept his position as a mere part of the universe. This is his lasting legacy.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph H because it mentions later scientists. But H is about other people building on his work, while I is about the fundamental change he brought. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'forever changed the place of man in the cosmos' = Statement: 'legacy to the future of science'
Tips: Words like 'legacy' and 'future' point to paragraphs that discuss lasting importance, not just chronological events.
Key Vocabulary:
- legacy = what you leave behind
- cosmos = the universe
Question Focus: Finding where later scholars used Copernicus's work as a foundation
Passage Reference: In time however, Copernicus's work became more accepted. Subsequent scientists and mathematicians such as Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus's work as a starting point and used it to glean further truths about the laws of celestial mechanics.
Why this is correct: Paragraph H directly says that scientists like Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus's work as a starting point and used it to learn more about celestial mechanics. This is exactly how academics built on his ideas.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph G because it mentions scientists. But G is about scientists being punished, not building on ideas. This is a context shift trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'took Copernicus's work as a starting point' = Statement: 'built on Copernican ideas'
Tips: When a statement says 'built on', look for language about using something as a foundation or starting point.
Key Vocabulary:
- subsequent = coming after
- glean = gather slowly
Question Focus: Finding where a theory is described as appealing to people
Passage Reference: The theory appealed to human nature. Someone making casual observations as they looked into the sky might come to a similar conclusion. It also fed the human ego. Humans could believe that they were at the centre of God's universe, and the sun and stars were created for their benefit.
Why this is correct: Paragraph C literally begins by saying the theory appealed to human nature. It explains that people liked believing they were at the centre of God's universe. This is directly an idea attractive to humans.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph B because it explains the theory itself. But B describes what the theory says, not why people found it appealing. This is a partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'the theory appealed to human nature' = Statement: 'an idea which is attractive to humans'
Tips: When a statement asks about attractiveness or appeal, look for emotional language about why people liked something.
Key Vocabulary:
- appealed = was attractive
- ego = sense of self-importance
Question Focus: Finding where old teaching methods and flawed research are described
Passage Reference: European astronomers were more inclined to save face. Instead of proposing new ideas, they attempted to patch up and refine Ptolemy's flawed model. Students were taught using a book called The Sphere which had been written two hundred years previously. In short, astronomy failed to advance.
Why this is correct: Paragraph D says astronomers tried to patch up and refine Ptolemy's flawed model instead of proposing new ideas. Students were taught using a book written two hundred years previously. This is clearly out-dated teaching and defective research.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph B because Ptolemy's incorrect theory is mentioned. But B explains what the theory was, not how teaching and research were outdated. This is a wrong section trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'a book written two hundred years previously' = Statement: 'out-dated teaching'
Tips: Words like 'old', 'two hundred years previously', and 'failed to advance' point to outdated practices.
Key Vocabulary:
- patch up = repair badly
- flawed = containing errors
Question Focus: Finding where scientists were punished for supporting the new theory
Passage Reference: However, the scientists who followed in Copernicus's footsteps bore the brunt of the church's anger. Bruno was sentenced to death by burning in 1600. Galileo, famous for his construction of the telescope, was forced to deny his belief in the Copernican theories. He escaped capital punishment, but was imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Why this is correct: Paragraph G describes how Bruno was sentenced to death by burning and Galileo was imprisoned for the rest of his life because of their beliefs. These are clear examples of scientists suffering.
Common Mistake: Some students choose Paragraph F because punishment is implied. But F says Copernicus never had to suffer. This is a contradiction trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'sentenced to death by burning' and 'imprisoned for the rest of his life' = Statement: 'scientists suffer for their beliefs'
Tips: Strong negative outcomes like death and imprisonment are clear signals of suffering.
Key Vocabulary:
- bore the brunt = received the worst of
- capital punishment = death sentence
General Tips:
- Matching Headings to paragraphs requires finding the MAIN IDEA, not just a detail.
- Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph carefully - they often state the purpose.
- Cross out each paragraph letter after matching it. Each letter can only be used once.
- Be careful with paragraphs that seem similar. F and G both involve reactions, but F is about public opinion and G is about personal punishment.
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