William Henry Perkin Reading Passage
William Henry Perkin Reading Passage
Paragraph 1
On 12 March 1838, William Henry Perkin was born in London, England.
Paragraph 2
Curiosity drives the early Perkins to the arts, sciences, photography and engineering till he gets into the laboratory of his late grandfather. It developed his enthusiasm towards chemistry.
Paragraph 3
As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry. Perkins' talent and devotion to the subject of chemistry is recognized by his teacher. He attended Michal Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution by the encouragement of Thomas Hall. His speeches developed his interest towards chemistry further. Later, at the age of 15, 1853, Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry.
Paragraph 4
German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann was head at the Royal college of chemistry during the time of Perkin’s enrolment. Hofmann identified the perkin's scientific gifts and he became a youngest assistant of Hofmann. After some time, Perkin got his fame and both through his scientific breakthrough.
Paragraph 5
Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America. The demand for the drug increased by 1856. Hofmann made some comments about the synthetic substitute for quinine and his star pupil takes up as a challenge.
Paragraph 6
In 1856, during his vacation, he was trying to manufacture quinine from aniline (inexpensive and readily available coal tar waste) in his laboratory at the top of his family’s house. Out of his best efforts, he didn't get the quinine, but some mysterious dark sludge. Fortunately, Perkin's scientific training and nature made him explore the substance further. At the various stages of the experimental process, he added the potassium dichromate and alcohol into the aniline which produced a deep purple solution. Louis Pasteur’s words ‘chance favours only the prepared mind’, proved to be true, he saw the unexpected potential of his find.
Paragraph 7
Usually, the textile dye was made from natural resources such as plants and animal excretions. Few of these, like glandular mucus of snails, were both expensive and difficult to get. At that time, the rich can only afford the purple colour which is extracted from the snail as this is so costly. Moreover, the tendency of the natural dyes is found to be muddy in hue and fade quickly. Perkin’s discovery was against this backdrop.
Paragraph 8
Perkin understood that his purple solution could be used for colour fabric, which is the world’s first synthetic dye. He patented it as he realised the importance of his finding. One of the fascinating reactions of Perkin quickly found that the new dye has commercial possibilities.
Paragraph 9
Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple. Later, it became commonly known as mauve. By asking advice to the Scottish dye works owner Robert Pullar, he understood that the dye manufacturing would be worthwhile if the colour remained fast (i.e. would not fade) and if it is relatively low cost. His mentor Hofmann objected to him in a fierce manner, so he left the college and gave birth to the modern chemical industry.
Paragraph 10
Perkin set up a factory, near London, with the help of his father and brother. Coal tar is cheap and plentiful as this is an almost limitless by-product of London’s street lighting. The dye works started producing the world’s first synthetically dyed material in 1857. The Empress Eugenie of France, boosted the commercial part of the company as the new colour flattered her. Mauve becomes a necessary shade for all the fashionable ladies in that country.
Paragraph 11
In public, England’s Queen Victoria appears wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England. The dye was both fast and bold, and the public demand was increased. Perkin returns to the drawing board.
Paragraph 12
Though Perkin's first discovery itself brought him fortune and achievements, the chemist continued his research. He developed and introduced several other dyes including aniline red (1859) and aniline black (1863) and Perkin’s green in the late 1860s. Perkin’s synthetic dye discoveries resulted in more than just decorative purposes. The dyes also become important to medical research in many ways. For example, researchers are able to identify such bacilli as tuberculosis, cholera and anthrax, which were the invisible microbes and bacteria before. Artificial dyes continue to play an important role even today. Its current use in the search for a vaccine against malaria, which could have pleased the Perkin.
William Henry Perkin Reading Questions & Answers
Questions and Answers 1-5
William Henry Perkin Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)
Type of question: Flow chart completion
You are required to fill in the blanks in the flowchart based on the information provided in the passage to complete the flowchart task in the IELTS reading section.
How to best answer
- Read the instructions associated with the completion of the flowcharts carefully. You will be guided by instructions on what information you need to input.
- Quickly look at the flowchart and questions before diving into the passage. This will give you an overview of the information you're looking for.
- Look for keywords or phrases in the flowchart and the questions. These keywords will help you quickly find the information needed in a passage.
- In some cases, the words in a passage don't correspond exactly to the language on this chart. When filling in the blanks, be open to synonyms or paraphrased versions of the words.
Reference
From paragraph 1: “On 12 March 1838, William Henry Perkin was born in London, England.”
Explanation
According to the passage, William Henry Perkin was born in London, England, on 12 March 1838 and made an incredible impact on the world. His scientific discoveries have influenced countless industries and continue to be relevant today.
Reference
From paragraph 3: “As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry. Perkins' talent and devotion to the subject of chemistry is recognised by his teacher.”
Explanation
Perkin's passion for chemistry was evident from his time as a City of London School student. He was deeply devoted to the subject, and his teacher recognised his remarkable talent in the field.
Reference
From paragraph 6: “At the various stages of the experimental process, he added the potassium dichromate and alcohol into the aniline which produced a deep purple solution.”
Explanation
As per the passage, during the experimental process, Perkin added potassium dichromate and alcohol to the aniline at different stages, creating a striking deep purple solution.
Reference
From paragraph 9: “Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple. Later, it became commonly known as mauve.”
Explanation
Perkin's creation of the dye, which he originally named "Tyrian Purple," was a revolutionary discovery that changed the course of history. It became so popular that it was later widely known as "mauve." The discovery of this dye opened up new possibilities in the textile industry, and its impact can still be felt today.
Reference
From paragraph 12: “He developed and introduced several other dyes including aniline red (1859) and aniline black (1863) and Perkin’s green in the late 1860s.”
Explanation
As the passage states, Perkin went on to develop and introduce several other dyes, including aniline red in 1859, aniline black in 1863, and Perkin's green in the late 1860s. His work in this field paved the way for many future advancements and cemented his place in history as a true pioneer.
Questions and Answers 6-10
6. Whose lectures Perkin attended at the Royal Institution?
- August Wilhelm Hofmann
- Thomas Hall
- Michal Faraday
- Niels Bohr
7. What is the age when Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry?
- 15
- 18
- 20
- 14
8. Where is the quinine extracted from?
- Tree’s bark
- Herbs
- Cinchona tree’s bark
- Dye
9. How the Tyrian Purple became commonly known as?
- Purple
- Perkin’s Purple
- Aniline
- Mauve
10. Where did Perkin set up a factory?
- London
- Bristol
- Leicester
- Norwich
William Henry Perkin Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10)
Type of question: Multiple Choice Questions
This is the typical MCQ type. You just need to select one answer out of the 4 options.
How to best answer the questions
- Skim through the questions and identify the keywords
- Use the elimination method and recognise options that include inaccurate or false information as per the given passage
- Match each option with the passage and choose an answer most accurately supported by the information in the passage.
- Cross-check your answers and finalise them.
Reference
From paragraph 3: “He attended Michal Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution by the encouragement of Thomas Hall.”
Explanation
Perkin's interest in science was encouraged by his teacher, Thomas Hall, who urged him to attend Michael Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution. This experience played a significant role in shaping Perkin's scientific career and helped him to become the influential figure that he is known as today.
Reference
From paragraph 3: “His speeches developed his interest towards chemistry further. Later, at the age of 15, 1853, Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry.”
Explanation
At 15, Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry after being encouraged by his teacher and attending Michael Faraday's lectures. This helped him develop his passion for chemistry and set the stage for his groundbreaking discoveries.
Reference
From paragraph 5: “Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America. “
Explanation
In the past, quinine was the sole effective treatment for malaria, and it could only be extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, which is native to South America. This discovery, while limited in scope, had a significant impact on the medical world and helped pave the way for future advancements in treating this disease.
Reference
From paragraph 9: “Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple. Later, it became commonly known as mauve.”
Explanation
Perkin's groundbreaking creation of a new dye, initially called "Tyrian Purple," was later widely known as "mauve." This discovery was a turning point in the world of textile manufacturing and has had a lasting impact on the industry. As a result, Perkin's legacy remains an inspiration to many.
Reference
From paragraph 10: “Perkin set up a factory, near London, with the help of his father and brother. Coal tar is cheap and plentiful as this is an almost limitless by-product of London’s street lighting.”
Explanation
With the help of his father and brother, Perkin established a factory near London that utilised coal tar, a nearly limitless by-product of the city's street lighting, to create dyes. This innovation not only made dyes more affordable and accessible but also paved the way for future developments in industrial chemistry and manufacturing.
Questions and Answers 11-14
11. Which subject that Perkin is interested in?
12. When the quinine drug demand increased?
13. Who was head at the Royal College of Chemist when Perkin enrolled?
14. Who appeared in the public wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England?
William Henry Perkin Reading Answers with Explanations (11-14)
Type of question: Short Answer Questions
In this task, you will be given a set of questions with missing information, typically sentences with blank spaces. You must complete each statement with one word or phrase (as instructed).
How to best answer
- Read the questions first to understand what information you need to look for in the passage.
- Skim the passage and look for keywords
- You may have to look for synonyms or paraphrases to locate the answer
- Verify your answers and finalise them
Reference
From paragraph 3: “As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry. Perkins' talent and devotion to the subject of chemistry is recognized by his teacher.”
Explanation
Perkin's passion for chemistry was evident during his time as a student at the City of London School, where he was fully immersed in the subject. His teacher recognised his remarkable talent and devotion to chemistry, which ultimately led to Perkin's groundbreaking discoveries and his legacy as a pioneer in the field.
Reference
From paragraph 5: “Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America. The demand for the drug increased by 1856.”
Explanation
At that time, quinine was the sole viable treatment for malaria and was extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree in South America. As demand increased in 1856, innovations were required to meet production needs, leading to medical advancements.
Reference
From paragraph 4: “German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann was head at the Royal college of chemistry during the time of Perkin’s enrolment.”
Explanation
When Perkin enrolled in the institution, August Wilhelm Hofmann, a German chemist, was the head of the Royal College of Chemistry. Hofmann's influence and guidance played a significant role in shaping Perkin's scientific career and helped him become the influential figure he is today.
Reference
From paragraph 11: “In public, England’s Queen Victoria appears wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England.”
Explanation
The appearance of Queen Victoria wearing a mauve gown in public caused a sensation in England, sparking a trend for the colour that would last for years to come. This event highlighted the cultural impact of Perkin's creation and cemented his legacy as a pioneer in the world of dyes.
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