Question

At Harvard Medical School, Richard Ebright began doing experiments because he wanted:

• A. to save his life.
• B. to save others' life.
• C. to prove the reaction.
• D. to test his theory.

Hint:

In comprehension questions from biographies, always focus on the main motive or contribution of the person rather than side details.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the context.
This question is from the chapter The Making of a Scientist by Robert W. Peterson. Richard H. Ebright, while studying at Harvard Medical School, was deeply engaged in scientific research and experiments related to cells and DNA.
Step 2: Identifying the purpose.
Ebright was not motivated by saving his own life or others’ lives directly, nor merely to prove a reaction. His main goal was to test his scientific theory about cell functioning and DNA.
Step 3: Analyzing the options.
(A) to save his life: Incorrect — there was no threat to his life.
(B) to save others' life: Incorrect — his focus was on scientific research, not immediate life-saving.
(C) to prove the reaction: Partly relevant, but not the primary reason. His aim was broader.
(D) to test his theory: Correct — he wanted to verify his own scientific theory through experimentation.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, the correct answer is (D) to test his theory.