Question 63·Hard·Central Ideas and Details
History often credits British chemist Rosalind Franklin with providing the crucial X-ray diffraction images that enabled Watson and Crick to propose the double-helix structure of DNA. Less remembered, however, is Raymond Gosling, the graduate student who physically operated the equipment to produce the famous Photograph 51 and painstakingly refined the imaging technique. Without Gosling’s technical expertise and many hours adjusting exposure times, Franklin might never have obtained the clarity she needed. Nonetheless, scientific publications and popular retrospectives usually mention Gosling only in passing, focusing instead on Franklin’s interpretive insights.
Which choice best states the main idea of the passage?
For main idea questions, first read the entire passage and then ask, “If I had to explain this in one sentence, what would I say?” Identify who or what the passage focuses on most and what the author’s main point or attitude about that subject is. Then eliminate answer choices that (1) contradict clear details in the text, (2) reverse the author’s emphasis, or (3) focus on a minor detail instead of the overall message. Choose the option that captures the central focus and the author’s main point about it, not just a single sentence or example.
Hints
Focus on who the passage is really about
Ask yourself: Is the passage mainly celebrating Franklin’s work, or is it drawing attention to Gosling’s role and how he is remembered?
Summarize Gosling’s role in your own words
Briefly restate what Gosling actually did (his tasks and skills) and how the passage says people usually talk about him today.
Eliminate answers that distort roles or emphasis
Cross out any options that reverse who is underrecognized, downplay Gosling’s importance, or shift the focus away from Gosling’s technical role.
Check each option against two key ideas
The correct main idea should include both (1) Gosling’s essential technical contribution and (2) the fact that he is not widely credited for it.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main focus of the passage
Read the passage and ask: who is being talked about the most, and for what purpose? While Rosalind Franklin is mentioned first, most of the passage is actually about Raymond Gosling—what he did and how he is remembered.
Notice especially:
- Franklin is introduced as the one usually credited.
- Then the passage shifts to Gosling and stays on him: what he did, how skilled he was, and how little he is mentioned.
Determine what the author says about Gosling
Look closely at the sentences about Gosling:
- He "physically operated the equipment" and "refined the imaging technique."
- His "technical expertise" and hours adjusting exposure times were necessary for Franklin to get clear images.
- Yet he is "less remembered" and is "usually mentioned ... only in passing," while Franklin’s insights are the focus.
So the passage presents two key ideas about Gosling:
- His role was highly technical and crucial to producing Photograph 51.
- His contributions are mostly overlooked or undercredited.
Match these ideas against the answer choices
Now compare those two key ideas to each option.
Eliminate choices that:
- shift the focus away from Gosling’s underrecognized technical role,
- downplay his work as merely routine help,
- or broaden the passage into a more general claim that doesn’t capture the passage’s specific point.
Only an option that captures both Gosling’s essential technical contribution and the fact that he is not widely credited can be correct.
Select the answer that reflects Gosling’s crucial but underrecognized role
The only choice that accurately captures both of the passage’s key points—that Photograph 51 was produced through joint work and that Gosling’s technical skills were essential but largely unrecognized—is The development of Photograph 51 was the result of collaborative effort in which Gosling’s technical skills were indispensable yet underrecognized.