Which of the following best describes the tone used by the author of this passage?
Show Hint
- Harsh criticism of the delay in scientific progress
- Singular focus on Oersted as a player in this period
- Alignment with the frustrations of past critics
- Observation and eventual agreement with earlier writers
- Qualified praise of Oersted as a scientific genius
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks to identify the author's tone, which is the author's attitude toward the subject. We must look at word choice and the overall argument to determine this attitude.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The author starts by citing the "surprise" of "many writers." The author doesn't just report this; they amplify it, saying, "The surprise is still greater when one realizes..." This shows the author shares this feeling. The final sentence, which dismisses a potential excuse for the delay ("Oersted's comment... does not excuse the twenty-year delay"), is a direct judgment that aligns with the sense of frustration that the discovery took so long.
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) Harsh criticism...: The tone is academic and analytical, not "harsh." The author expresses puzzlement and frustration, but not in an aggressive way. } \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Singular focus on Oersted...: The passage is about the discovery in a broader context, discussing the entire scientific community's failure to notice the effect for 20 years. } \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Alignment with the frustrations of past critics: This accurately describes the tone. The author takes up the "surprise" (a form of intellectual frustration) of past writers and reinforces it with their own analysis and judgment. } \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Observation and eventual agreement...: The word "eventual" is incorrect. The author's agreement is immediate in the first paragraph; there is no sense of a process of coming to agree. } \\ \bullet & \text{(E) Qualified praise of Oersted...: The passage focuses far more on the context of the delay than on praising Oersted. The tone is analytical, not praiseworthy. } \\ \end{array}\]
Step 3: Final Answer:
The author's tone is best described as an alignment with the frustrations of earlier writers who were puzzled by the 20-year delay in discovering the link between electricity and magnetism.
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