Many scientific discoveries have been made by accident—while scientists were studying one thing, they stumbled upon something else entirely. One such example involves the discovery of penicillin, a powerful antibiotic that revolutionized medicine, by Alexander Fleming. While studying bacteria in 1928, Fleming left a petri dish of bacteria uncovered in a lab. When he returned, Fleming observed that a mold had grown in the dish, and that, surprisingly, the bacteria surrounding the mold had died. The discovery of penicillin provides a powerful illustration of how ______.
Which choice most logically completes the text above?
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The passage describes a discovery that was made by accident, as the scientist was studying something else. The discovery of penicillin illustrates that unexpected discoveries can be the result of scientific inquiry.
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