ISEE Upper Level Reading : Identifying and Analyzing Main Idea and Theme in Science Passages
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Ideas In Science Passages
Adapted from “The Progress of Medical Education in the United States” in the Scientific American Supplement No. 1157 Vol. XLV (March 5th, 1898)
It is pleasing to note and it augurs well for the future that a decided advance has been made in the direction of a more thorough medical training in America, yet at the same time it is discouraging to observe that, despite these progressive steps, competition does not abate, but rather daily becomes more acute.
There is now a grand total of one hundred and fifty-four medical schools in America. To make a telling comparison, the total number of medical schools in Austria and Germany, with a population exceeding that of this country, is twenty-nine. Great Britain, with more than half the population, has seventeen; while Russia, with one hundred million inhabitants, has nine. Of course we do not argue that America, with her immense territory and scattered population, does not need greater facilities for the study of medicine than do thickly inhabited countries, as Germany and Great Britain; but we do contend that when a city of the size of St. Louis has as many schools as Russia, the craze for multiplying these schools is being carried to absurd and harmful lengths.
However, that the number of schools and their yearly supply of graduates of medicine are far beyond the demand is perfectly well known to all. The Medical Record and other medical journals have fully discussed and insisted upon that point for a considerable time. The real question at issue is by what means to remedy or at least to lessen the bad effects of the system as quickly as possible.
The first and most important steps toward this desirable consummation have been already taken, and when a four years' course comes into practice throughout the country, the difficult problem of checking excessive competition will at any rate be much nearer its solution. Why should France, Germany, Great Britain and other European nations consider that a course of from five to seven years is not too long to acquire a good knowledge of medical work, while in many parts of America two or three years' training is esteemed ample for the manufacture of a full-fledged doctor? Such methods are unfair both to the public and to the medical profession.
The primary argument of this passage is that __________.
American medical education has never been healthier or better equipped than in the last few years.
The medical education in Europe is far superior to the medical education in the United States.
Becoming a doctor in American requires less study than does becoming a doctor in one of many other countries.
American medical education is suffering from a variety of ills.
American medical schools have courses which are far too easy to pass.
American medical education is suffering from a variety of ills.
The primary argument of this passage is that American medical education is suffering from more than one major problem. The author argues that there are too many universities and that European education has greatly surpassed that which is offered in America. Answering this question correctly requires you to understand how the various arguments made by the author combine into one larger point, rather than taking each of the points made by the author as the primary argument.
Example Question #22 : Ideas In Science Passages
Adapted from “The Progress of Medical Education in the United States” in the Scientific American Supplement No. 1157 Vol. XLV (March 5th, 1898)
It is pleasing to note and it augurs well for the future that a decided advance has been made in the direction of a more thorough medical training in America, yet at the same time it is discouraging to observe that, despite these progressive steps, competition does not abate, but rather daily becomes more acute.
There is now a grand total of one hundred and fifty-four medical schools in America. To make a telling comparison, the total number of medical schools in Austria and Germany, with a population exceeding that of this country, is twenty-nine. Great Britain, with more than half the population, has seventeen; while Russia, with one hundred million inhabitants, has nine. Of course we do not argue that America, with her immense territory and scattered population, does not need greater facilities for the study of medicine than do thickly inhabited countries, as Germany and Great Britain; but we do contend that when a city of the size of St. Louis has as many schools as Russia, the craze for multiplying these schools is being carried to absurd and harmful lengths.
However, that the number of schools and their yearly supply of graduates of medicine are far beyond the demand is perfectly well known to all. The Medical Record and other medical journals have fully discussed and insisted upon that point for a considerable time. The real question at issue is by what means to remedy or at least to lessen the bad effects of the system as quickly as possible.
The first and most important steps toward this desirable consummation have been already taken, and when a four years' course comes into practice throughout the country, the difficult problem of checking excessive competition will at any rate be much nearer its solution. Why should France, Germany, Great Britain and other European nations consider that a course of from five to seven years is not too long to acquire a good knowledge of medical work, while in many parts of America two or three years' training is esteemed ample for the manufacture of a full-fledged doctor? Such methods are unfair both to the public and to the medical profession.
The author of this passage would most likely desire __________.
fewer medical schools operating under a higher standard
a similar number of medical schools with an improvement in resources provided to them
more medical schools operating under a higher standard
a more challenging entrance exam into medical schools and a greater inclusion of minorities
a national medical curriculum fixed at a two year course.
fewer medical schools operating under a higher standard
Answering this question requires you to understand the primary themes and arguments of the essay—namely, that the author believes there are too many medical schools and that they are operating under a standard that is too easy. This can most clearly be seen with the author’s comments about how short the courses are and how many doctors graduate from medical school and then have to do the bulk of their learning on the job. That the author thinks there are too many medical schools can be understood from his comparisons between America and Europe, where he seems to be supporting the European model of far fewer universities. You may therefore determine that the author of this passage would want “fewer medical schools operating under a higher standard.”
Example Question #21 : Main Idea
Adapted from "How the Soil is Made" by Charles Darwin in Wonders of Earth, Sea, and Sky (1902, ed. Edward Singleton Holden)
Worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose. In almost all humid countries they are extraordinarily numerous, and for their size possess great muscular power. In many parts of England a weight of more than ten tons (10,516 kilograms) of dry earth annually passes through their bodies and is brought to the surface on each acre of land, so that the whole superficial bed of vegetable mould passes through their bodies in the course of every few years. From the collapsing of the old burrows, the mold is in constant though slow movement, and the particles composing it are thus rubbed together. Thus the particles of earth, forming the superficial mold, are subjected to conditions eminently favorable for their decomposition and disintegration. This keeps the surface of the earth perfectly suited to the growth of an abundant array of fruits and vegetables.
Worms are poorly provided with sense-organs, for they cannot be said to see, although they can just distinguish between light and darkness; they are completely deaf, and have only a feeble power of smell; the sense of touch alone is well developed. They can, therefore, learn little about the outside world, and it is surprising that they should exhibit some skill in lining their burrows with their castings and with leaves, and in the case of some species in piling up their castings into tower-like constructions. But it is far more surprising that they should apparently exhibit some degree of intelligence instead of a mere blind, instinctive impulse, in their manner of plugging up the mouths of their burrows. They act in nearly the same manner as would a man, who had to close a cylindrical tube with different kinds of leaves, petioles, triangles of paper, etc., for they commonly seize such objects by their pointed ends. But with thin objects a certain number are drawn in by their broader ends. They do not act in the same unvarying manner in all cases, as do most of the lower animals.
What “important part in the history of the world” does the author believe worms have played?
They provide food for birds, maintaining bird populations around the world.
They consume waste, keeping the earth clean and healthy.
They recycle the surface layer of soil, keeping it fresh and fertile.
They demonstrate intelligence, providing evidence of non-human sentience.
They break up rocks, keeping the earth level and flat.
They recycle the surface layer of soil, keeping it fresh and fertile.
The first paragraph is essentially one long explanation about the very important role that worms have played in history of the world. The author begins by saying “Worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose.” The author then goes on to describe the process by which they play this “important part.” And, finally, he concludes by saying “This keeps the surface of the earth perfectly suited to the growth of an abundant array of fruits and vegetables.” The key is to focus on the relationship between the opening and closing sentences of the first paragraph.
Example Question #23 : Ideas In Science Passages
Adapted from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1859)
How will the struggle for existence, discussed too briefly in the last chapter, act in regard to variation? Can the principle of selection, which we have seen is so potent in the hands of man, apply in nature? I think we shall see that it can act most effectually. Let it be borne in mind in what an endless number of strange peculiarities our domestic productions, and, in a lesser degree, those under nature, vary; and how strong the hereditary tendency is. Under domestication, it may be truly said that the whole organization becomes in some degree plastic. Let it be borne in mind how infinitely complex and close-fitting are the mutual relations of all organic beings to each other and to their physical conditions of life. Can it, then, be thought improbable, seeing that variations useful to man have undoubtedly occurred, that other variations useful in some way to each being in the great and complex battle of life, should sometimes occur in the course of thousands of generations? If such do occur, can we doubt (remembering that many more individuals are born than can possibly survive) that individuals having any advantage, however slight, over others, would have the best chance of surviving and of procreating their kind? On the other hand, we may feel sure that any variation in the least degree injurious would be rigidly destroyed. This preservation of favorable variations and the rejection of injurious variations, I call Natural Selection. Variations neither useful nor injurious would not be affected by natural selection, and would be left a fluctuating element, as perhaps we see in the species called polymorphic.
We shall best understand the probable course of natural selection by taking the case of a country undergoing some physical change, for instance, of climate. The proportional numbers of its inhabitants would almost immediately undergo a change, and some species might become extinct. We may conclude, from what we have seen of the intimate and complex manner in which the inhabitants of each country are bound together, that any change in the numerical proportions of some of the inhabitants, independently of the change of climate itself, would most seriously affect many of the others. If the country were open on its borders, new forms would certainly immigrate, and this also would seriously disturb the relations of some of the former inhabitants. Let it be remembered how powerful the influence of a single introduced tree or mammal has been shown to be. But in the case of an island, or of a country partly surrounded by barriers, into which new and better adapted forms could not freely enter, we should then have places in the economy of nature which would assuredly be better filled up, if some of the original inhabitants were in some manner modified; for, had the area been open to immigration, these same places would have been seized on by intruders. In such case, every slight modification, which in the course of ages chanced to arise, and which in any way favoured the individuals of any of the species, by better adapting them to their altered conditions, would tend to be preserved; and natural selection would thus have free scope for the work of improvement.
The main topic of this passage is __________.
problems between spouses
science and evolution
none of these answers
faith in a higher power
changes between parents and children
science and evolution
The passage seems focused on science and the progression of species over time. The language has mostly to do with "organic beings" and their evolution over time.
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