Read the excerpt from Chapter Two of Windows to the Universe: Revolutions in Astronomy.In 1608, a Dutch spectacle maker named Jacob Metius filed the first patent for a device that could make "faraway objects appear close." His invention provided magnification three to four times. While the patent office denied his application (since it was easy to copy), Metius was awarded a small sum for his efforts. This simple invention—a long tube with a convex lens on one end and a concave lens on the other—was revolutionary.Which conclusion can be drawn from this evidence?
Answer
A
Jacob Metius's invention directly inspired Galileo's later work on telescope development.
B
The simplicity of early telescopes made them less valuable than later, more complex designs.
C
The invention of basic telescopes represented a significant step forward in scientific exploration.
D
Early telescopes were primarily used for practical purposes, such as navigation or military applications.
Explanation
The device could magnify distant objects three to four times, allowing people to see things that were otherwise too far away to observe closely. The excerpt calls this simple invention “revolutionary,” so the best conclusion is that basic telescopes were a significant step forward in scientific exploration. The passage does not say that Metius directly inspired Galileo or that telescopes were mainly used for navigation or military purposes.
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