Over time, non-specialists are usually able to assimilate radically new scientific ideas, even though these ideas may seem strange when they are initially introduced. Such was the case with Newtonian physics; when Newton proposed his ideas regarding motion and gravitation in the seventeenth century, they were denounced as unreasonable even by other leading physicists. Eventually, however, Newton’s ideas were generally assimilated. Such will also prove to be the case with quantum mechanics, a twentieth-century science that deals with the behavior of matter and light on the subatomic scale. Eventually, the novelty of quantum mechanics will no longer act as a bar to the comprehension of this theory by the non-specialist.

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8) The author of the passage assumes which of the following about quantum mechanics in relation to previous scientific theories?
A) Quantum mechanics is not inherently more difficult for the non-specialist than previous scientific theories.
B) Quantum mechanics has generated less controversy among specialists than previous scientific theories.
C) Quantum mechanics is more important to the history of science than previous scientific theories.
D) Quantum mechanics has more important practical applications than previous scientific theories.

The author seems to imply (A), but I do not agree with his statement. Quantum mechanics is much more difficult to learn and apply than Newtonian physics, because of the mathematics required.

The author of the passage assumes that quantum mechanics is not inherently more difficult for the non-specialist than previous scientific theories.

To arrive at this answer, we can examine the sentence "Eventually, the novelty of quantum mechanics will no longer act as a bar to the comprehension of this theory by the non-specialist." This suggests that although quantum mechanics may initially seem strange or difficult, non-specialists will eventually be able to assimilate and comprehend it, just as they have done with previous scientific theories such as Newtonian physics.

Therefore, option A) is the correct answer.