Question 137·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is adapted from astronomer Maria Mitchell’s 1878 public lecture on the value of scientific inquiry.
Was it not once considered both bold and dangerous to question the wanderings of the planets? Yet every time a student points a telescope skyward, she repeats that once-subversive act. The moment we assume the heavens have nothing new to teach, we surrender the very instrument that carried us beyond superstition: inquiry. The universe is no polite guest; if uninvited, it will not press its revelations upon us. We must summon them, and do so persistently.
Which choice best describes the primary purpose of the text?
For primary purpose questions, first read the entire passage and briefly summarize what the author is mainly doing (for example, encouraging, criticizing, explaining, or narrating). Then, check each answer choice against that one-sentence summary and the overall tone, eliminating any choice that adds new topics or specifics not in the passage or that misrepresents the author’s attitude. Usually, the correct choice will match both the content and the tone of the whole passage, not just one striking phrase.
Hints
Start with a quick summary
Before looking at the answer choices, try to state in one short sentence what the speaker is mainly doing in this excerpt. Is she describing, explaining, criticizing, or encouraging something?
Pay attention to the end of the passage
Reread the last two sentences about the universe not being a "polite guest" and the need to "summon" its revelations. What is the speaker telling the audience to do?
Check for extra ideas in the choices
Look for answer choices that bring in things the passage does not really talk about in detail, like specific technology, schools, or long historical stories. Those are likely wrong even if a related word appears once.
Match tone and purpose
Ask yourself: Is the tone mainly negative and blaming, neutral and factual, or positive/urging? Eliminate any choices whose tone or focus does not fit what you sensed while reading.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the task: primary purpose
The question asks for the primary purpose of the text, so you need to think about the author's overall goal in giving this short lecture excerpt, not just a single detail or sentence.
Summarize the passage in your own words
Paraphrase the key ideas:
- It was once seen as bold and dangerous to question the planets.
- Each student who uses a telescope repeats that same questioning spirit.
- If we assume the heavens have nothing new to teach, we give up inquiry, the tool that freed us from superstition.
- The universe will not force its secrets on us; we must actively and persistently seek its revelations.
This sounds like the speaker is encouraging a continuation of questioning and investigation, especially in astronomy.
Notice tone and emphasis
The tone is encouraging and urging, not just describing history or criticizing specific groups. Phrases like "we surrender the very instrument," "we must summon them," and "do so persistently" show the speaker is pushing the audience to keep investigating, not just informing them of facts.
Test each answer choice against your summary
Now compare your own summary of the passage to each option:
- One choice should match the idea of urging people to keep asking questions and looking through telescopes at the sky.
- The other choices mention things like detailed historical persecution, new technology, or blaming schools, none of which are actually developed in the passage.
The option that matches the encouragement of ongoing, active questioning in astronomy is A) To advocate for continued curiosity and active investigation in astronomy.