Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 67%

Glass
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.

What conclusion can be drawn from the information provided in the article?

Rationale

New uses for glass are constantly being discovered.

The passage highlights the versatility and significance of glass throughout civilization, emphasizing various applications such as windows, lenses, and cookware. This implies an ongoing discovery and development of new uses for glass, driven by the combination of elements and additives that alter its properties for diverse applications.

A (New uses for glass are constantly being discovered.) CORRECT

The passage mentions the wide range of applications of glass, from corrective lenses to cookware, suggesting that its adaptability leads to the continuous discovery of new uses. The variety of additives and their effects further supports the idea of glass being a dynamic and evolving material.

B (Glass is no longer used in modern technology.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice contradicts the passage, which highlights the critical role of glass in various modern applications such as cameras and microscopes. The text emphasizes the importance of glass in technology, indicating its ongoing relevance rather than obsolescence.

C (The production of glass is declining rapidly.) YOUR ANSWER

The passage does not discuss the rate of glass production or suggest any decline. Instead, it focuses on the widespread use and adaptability of glass, particularly noting that soda and lime glass accounts for about 90% of production, implying continued demand.

D (Glass is too brittle to be used in new applications.) YOUR ANSWER

While the passage describes glass as brittle, it also discusses how additives change its properties, enabling diverse applications, including durable cookware. This suggests that despite its brittleness, glass's properties can be tailored for specific uses, contradicting the notion that it is unsuitable for new applications.

Conclusion

The passage underscores the enduring significance and versatility of glass, facilitated by various additives that modify its properties for numerous applications. This adaptability suggests that new uses for glass continue to emerge, aligning with the correct choice of ongoing discovery. The incorrect options are either not supported or directly contradicted by the text, which consistently highlights glass's vital role and adaptability in both historical and modern contexts.

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