Academic Reading Sample Task – Identifying Information: True/False/Not Given

The Life and Work of Isaac Newton

Adapted with permission from Encyclopaedia Britannica, © 2007 by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Isaac Newton is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Born in 1643 in Woolsthorpe, England, he is renowned for his groundbreaking work in physics and mathematics, particularly in the fields of mechanics, optics, and gravitation. Newton’s seminal work, “Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica,” laid the foundations for classical mechanics. In recognition of his contributions, he was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705, becoming Sir Isaac Newton.

From an early age, Newton displayed an exceptional aptitude for mathematics and science. After the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother, he was sent to live with his grandmother. Newton’s formal education began at the King’s School in Grantham, where he demonstrated an extraordinary talent for building models of machines. At the age of 18, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, initially as a subsizar, earning his keep by performing menial tasks.

Newton’s academic prowess soon became evident, and he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1665. Due to an outbreak of the plague, he returned to his family estate, where he conducted some of his most significant research. It was during this period that he developed his theories on calculus, optics, and the law of universal gravitation. In 1667, Newton returned to Cambridge as a fellow of Trinity College, and in 1669 he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.

Newton’s work in optics involved extensive experiments with prisms, leading to his theory that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors. This was a revolutionary idea at the time and laid the groundwork for the field of spectroscopy. His invention of the reflecting telescope in 1668 was another major achievement, addressing the problem of chromatic aberration found in refracting telescopes.

In addition to his scientific endeavors, Newton held various administrative positions, including Warden and later Master of the Royal Mint. In these roles, he oversaw significant reforms in the English currency system. Newton was also a member of the Parliament of England but did not play a prominent role in political affairs.

Newton’s later years were marked by his involvement in various scientific disputes, most notably with the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the development of calculus. Despite these controversies, his legacy as a pioneer of modern science remains unchallenged. Newton continued his research and correspondence with other scientists until his death in 1727, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to influence contemporary science.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

• 8. Isaac Newton was born in the same year as Galileo Galilei died.
• 9. Newton’s work on optics was his only significant scientific contribution.
• 10. Newton played a prominent role in political affairs during his time in Parliament.

Answers:

8. NOT GIVEN

9. FALSE

10. FALSE

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