501 Critical Reading Questions

b
and 
e
are too specific
to be the passage’s primary purpose. Choices 
a
and 
c
are not sup-
ported by the passage.
172.
d.
Although he was 
a man of no formal scientific education
(line 2),
Leeuwenhoek demonstrated, in his own words, 
a craving after
knowledge, which I notice resides in me more than in most other men
(lines 24–26), who was the first to describe microorganisms. The
phrase 
stumbled upon
in choice 
a
is too accidental to describe
Leeuwenhoek’s perseverance. The words 
proficient
and 
entertain-
ment
in choice 
c
do not accurately describe Leeuwenhoek’s skill
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501
Critical Reading Questions

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1 1 5
and drive depicted in the passage. Choices 
b
and 
e
are incorrect;
Leeuwenhoek was not trained nor did he know that his discover-
ies would later help to cure disease.
173.
c.
Inspired
means to exert an animating or enlivening influence on. In
the context of the passage, Leeuwenhoek’s creation of microscope
lenses were influenced by the lenses used by drapers.
174.
a.
The quotation highlights the value Leeuwenhoek placed on shar-
ing his discoveries with other scientists. He states that he 
thought it
was my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious
people might be informed thereof
(lines 27–28).
175.
b.
The tone of the passage is positive. However, 
ecstatic reverence
(choice 
a
) is too positive and 
tepid approval
(choice