501 Critical Reading Questions

d. This choice is directly supported by lines 51–54 of the passage.
359.
d. The anecdote contrasts with the ensuing quote in paragraph 1
and depicts a plausible reason for the apple story—Newton
wanted to make his theory understood to the general public.
Speaking in physics terminology is abstract, but using an illus-
tration that regular people have witnessed again and again
would aid in understanding. The quote gives credence to the
anecdote, ruling out choice a. Choices b and e are never men-
tioned, and choice c is not backed up by the passage.
360.
e. Lines 16–18 of the passage clearly state that Newton became Pro-
fessor of Mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge.
361.
e. In paragraph 4, Newton’s Laws of Motion are said to govern the
motion of objects and are the basis for the concept of the clockwork
universe. Nowhere in the passage is it stated that Newton or his
Laws are responsible for the international dateline (choice b), lati-
tude (choice c), or longitude (choice d). Choice a plays on the
word govern in line 34 and is misleading.
362.
b. Lines 49–51 specifically state that Newton provided an explana-
tion of Kepler’s laws.
363.
d. All of the other titles were bestowed on Newton during his 
lifetime.
364.
b. William Stukeley published Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton’s Life in
1726, after Newton’s death. The other choices are all accom-
plishemnts of Newton in his lifetime.
365.
a. Choice a is correct because it lists the proper accolades and the
proper timeframe in which he lived. Choice b is incorrect because
he did not live in the Renaissance; choices c and d are incorrect
because he was not a lord, but a knight; and choice e is incorrect
because it is not the best summary of his vast accomplishments.
501