🎓 GED Exam Prep

Read the following passage: "The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 marked a turning point in medicine. Before penicillin, bacterial infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis were often fatal. Fleming's accidental observation of a mold inhibiting bacterial growth led to the development of the first true antibiotic. Its widespread use during World War II and in subsequent decades saved millions of lives and revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases, fundamentally altering human life expectancy and public health." What is the main idea of this passage?

A Alexander Fleming was a brilliant scientist who made many discoveries.
B Bacterial infections were once untreatable and often fatal.
C The discovery of penicillin profoundly changed medicine and public health.
D Penicillin was widely used during World War II.

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

The passage details how penicillin's discovery revolutionized medicine, saved lives, and altered public health, making this the overarching main idea. The other options are supporting details or less comprehensive.

💡 Why is C) the correct answer?

The correct answer to the question "Read the following passage: "The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 marked a turning point in medicine. Before penicillin, bacterial infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis were often fatal. Fleming's accidental observation of a mold inhibiting bacterial growth led to the development of the first true antibiotic. Its widespread use during World War II and in subsequent decades saved millions of lives and revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases, fundamentally altering human life expectancy and public health." What is the main idea of this passage?" is Option C: The discovery of penicillin profoundly changed medicine and public health..

The other options — A) Alexander Fleming was a brilliant scientist who made many discoveries., B) Bacterial infections were once untreatable and often fatal., D) Penicillin was widely used during World War II. — are incorrect for this GED Exam Prep question. As explained above: The passage details how penicillin's discovery revolutionized medicine, saved lives, and altered public health, making this the overarching main idea. The other options are supporting details or less…

📚 About This GED Exam Prep Practice Question

This 2-level GED Exam Prep question from the Reasoning Through Language Arts topic is part of BrainForge Quiz's free exam preparation library. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept, not just memorize the answer.

How to use this page: Read the question above, consider all four options (A through D), then check the highlighted correct answer and explanation. For active timed practice, start a free GED Exam Prep practice test or use flashcards for spaced repetition review.

Related GED Exam Prep Questions