OpenSAT

Question #N490

The author of the passage is primarily concerned with the way in which the human understanding of the natural world is influenced by new scientific discoveries. The author notes that new discoveries often lead to a re-evaluation of our understanding of the world around us, and that this re-evaluation can be a difficult and even painful process. The author supports this claim by citing a number of historical examples of how new scientific discoveries have challenged our understanding of the world, such as the discovery of heliocentrism and the theory of evolution. What is the primary claim of the passage?

The author of the passage claims that

A. the human understanding of the natural world is often influenced by new scientific discoveries.

B. new scientific discoveries are often difficult and painful to accept.

C. new scientific discoveries have challenged our understanding of the world in a number of ways.

D. the human understanding of the natural world is constantly changing.

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Correct Answer is: A

The author specifically focuses on how the human understanding of the world is shaped by new discoveries. The passage highlights the process of re-evaluation but doesn't make a claim about its difficulty or painfulness. It also doesn't claim that the world is constantly changing.