PSAT Reading Question 658: Answer and Explanation

Question: 658

The passage suggests that Maxwell was able to make a scientific breakthrough in photographic technology by shifting his focus from

• A. chemistry to biology.
• B. anthropology to astronomy.
• C. physics to mathematics.
• D. artistry to geometry.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) The third paragraph reports how Hill's and Becquerel's chemistry-based approach toward color photography was ultimately unsuccessful. It also reports that Maxwell was able to make progress by focusing on how the human eye—a biological organ—perceives colors. The other options do not accurately describe this transition.