Question

Which of the following provides an example of the main idea asserted in the first paragraph?

• A. Religion constantly wanes with the rise of science.
• B. The interest in science only arises once agriculture reaches a certain point of fixity.
• C. The fluctuation of coloration within a species is rather minimal.
• D. None of the other answers
• E. The Pythagorean theorem is based upon the constant relationship of the sides of a right triangle to its hypotenuse.

Hint:

When asked for an example of a main idea, first summarize the idea in your own words (e.g., "science looked for unchanging rules"). Then, test each option against your summary. The correct answer will be a specific case that fits the general principle described.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Identifying the Main Idea of the First Paragraph
The central theme of the first paragraph is that, for most of history, science focused on discovering "eternal and unchanging" subjects, "never-altering laws," and "constant patterns." Modern physics (up to the 19th century) is presented as the ultimate expression of this search for "static laws."

Step 2: Evaluating the Options as Examples
(A) Religion constantly wanes with the rise of science: This topic is not discussed in the first paragraph at all.
(B) The interest in science only arises once agriculture...: The passage mentions the Nile's flooding as an example of a phenomenon studied for its laws, but it does not claim this is the sole trigger for scientific interest. This is a misinterpretation.
(C) The fluctuation of coloration within a species...: This relates to biology and variation, which is the subject of the second paragraph concerning Darwinism. The first paragraph's examples are from physics and astronomy.
(E) The Pythagorean theorem is based upon the constant relationship...: The Pythagorean theorem (\(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)) is a perfect example of a "never-altering law" and a "constant pattern." It is a mathematical principle that is considered eternal and unchanging within its framework. This aligns perfectly with the main idea of the first paragraph.
Step 3: Final Answer
The Pythagorean theorem exemplifies the search for unchanging, static laws that the first paragraph describes as the dominant mode of scientific inquiry before Darwin. It is a constant relationship that holds true universally, fitting the description of the science of that era.