William Henry Perkin: Reading answers

The passage opens

Answers 1–13

1. 1

   Michael Faraday was the first person to recognise Perkin's ability as a student of chemistry.

   FALSE True / False / Not Given

   The statement says Faraday was the first to recognise Perkin’s ability, but the passage credits his teacher, Thomas Hall, with recognising his talent. Therefore, the statement is false.

   “His talent and devotion to the subject were perceived by his teacher, Thomas Hall”

2. 2

   Michael Faraday suggested Perkin should enrol in the Royal College of Chemistry.

   NOT GIVEN True / False / Not Given

   The passage says Hall encouraged Perkin to attend Faraday’s lectures, and later says Perkin entered the Royal College of Chemistry. It does not say Faraday suggested he enrol there.

3. 3

   Perkin employed August Wilhelm Hofmann as his assistant.

   FALSE True / False / Not Given

   The passage says Perkin became Hofmann’s assistant, not that he employed Hofmann. This contradicts the statement.

   “within two years, he became Hofmann's youngest assistant”

4. 4

   Perkin was still young when he made the discovery that made him rich and famous.

   TRUE True / False / Not Given

   The passage says Perkin entered the college at 15 and made his famous and lucrative breakthrough not long afterward. This shows that he was still young when he made the discovery.

5. 5

   The trees from which quinine is derived grow only in South America.

   NOT GIVEN True / False / Not Given

   The passage says the cinchona tree is native to South America, but it does not say that the tree grows only there. The statement is neither confirmed nor contradicted.

6. 6

   Perkin hoped to manufacture a drug from a coal tar waste product.

   TRUE True / False / Not Given

   The passage says Perkin tried to manufacture quinine, a drug, from aniline, which was a coal tar waste product. This agrees with the statement.

   “He was attempting to manufacture quinine from aniline, an inexpensive and readily available coal tar waste product.”

7. 7

   Perkin was inspired by the discoveries of the famous scientist Louis Pasteur.

   NOT GIVEN True / False / Not Given

   The passage quotes Pasteur’s words about chance and a prepared mind, but it does not say that Perkin was inspired by Pasteur’s discoveries. The statement is neither confirmed nor contradicted.

8. 8

   Before Perkin's discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?

   rich / the rich / only rich Short answer

   The passage says only the rich could afford the costly purple dye. This matches the answer that purple was associated with the rich.

   “in society at the time only the rich could afford it”

9. 9

   What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?

   commercial / commercial possibilities Short answer

   The passage says Perkin almost immediately recognised the dye’s “commercial possibilities.” This directly answers what potential he understood.

   “his nearly instant recognition that the new dye had commercial possibilities”

10. 10

    What was the name finally used to refer to the first colour Perkin invented?

    mauve / mauve was / mauve is Short answer

    The passage says the dye Perkin first named Tyrian Purple later became commonly known as mauve. So the final name was mauve.

    “it later became commonly known as mauve”

11. 11

    What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye works?

    Pullar / Robert Pullar Short answer

    The passage identifies Robert Pullar as the person Perkin consulted for advice. The answer is Pullar or Robert Pullar.

    “He asked advice of Scottish dye works owner Robert Pullar”

12. 12

    In what country did Perkin's newly invented colour first become fashionable?

    France / in France Short answer

    The passage says mauve became fashionable among ladies in France after Empress Eugénie favoured it. Therefore, the country was France.

13. 13

    According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using synthetic dyes?

    malaria / malaria is Short answer

    The passage says synthetic dyes are currently used in the search for a malaria vaccine. The disease being targeted is malaria.

    “their current use is in the search for a vaccine against malaria.”

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