Text 1Research into the discovery of penicillin often credits Alexander Fleming as the first scientist to identify its antibacterial properties....
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Research into the discovery of penicillin often credits Alexander Fleming as the first scientist to identify its antibacterial properties. Fleming's laboratory notes from September 1928 document his observation that a mold had contaminated one of his bacterial culture plates, killing the surrounding bacteria. This accidental discovery in London marked what many consider the beginning of modern antibiotic research. Fleming's work demonstrated that certain molds could produce substances capable of destroying harmful bacteria.
Text 2
While Fleming is widely recognized for discovering penicillin, earlier research suggests otherwise. In 1897, French medical student Ernest Duchesne wrote his doctoral thesis documenting how certain molds could combat bacterial infections. His experimental work with animals showed that mold extracts could successfully treat bacterial diseases. Though Duchesne's research was largely overlooked by the scientific community at the time, his thesis provides clear evidence of antibacterial properties in molds more than thirty years before Fleming's supposed discovery.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?
Duchesne's research preceded Fleming's discovery and also demonstrated molds' antibacterial capabilities.
Fleming's accidental discovery was more significant because it led to modern antibiotic development.
Duchesne likely influenced Fleming's later research through his published doctoral thesis.
Both scientists made important contributions to our understanding of natural antibiotics.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Research into the discovery of penicillin often credits Alexander Fleming as the first scientist to identify its antibacterial properties." |
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| "Fleming's laboratory notes from September 1928 document his observation that a mold had contaminated one of his bacterial culture plates, killing the surrounding bacteria." |
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| "This accidental discovery in London marked what many consider the beginning of modern antibiotic research." |
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| "While Fleming is widely recognized for discovering penicillin, earlier research suggests otherwise." |
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| "In 1897, French medical student Ernest Duchesne wrote his doctoral thesis documenting how certain molds could combat bacterial infections." |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 presents Fleming as the pioneer of penicillin discovery, while Text 2 argues that Duchesne actually demonstrated similar antibacterial properties of molds over 30 years earlier.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Text 2's author would likely point out that Duchesne's research from 1897 came first and demonstrated the same antibacterial properties that Fleming is credited for discovering.
Duchesne's research preceded Fleming's discovery and also demonstrated molds' antibacterial capabilities.
✓ Correct
- This directly reflects Text 2's main argument that Duchesne's research both preceded Fleming's and demonstrated the same antibacterial capabilities.
Fleming's accidental discovery was more significant because it led to modern antibiotic development.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests Fleming's discovery was more significant, which contradicts Text 2's entire argument.
Duchesne likely influenced Fleming's later research through his published doctoral thesis.
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2 states Duchesne's research was overlooked, so it couldn't have influenced Fleming's later work.
Both scientists made important contributions to our understanding of natural antibiotics.
✗ Incorrect
- This is too neutral for Text 2's author, who is specifically challenging Fleming's status as first.