Alexander Fleming had no idea on the morning of September 28, 1928, that he was about to save millions of lives. Returning to his lab after vacation, Fleming began sorting through his experiments. He discovered that mold had invaded a culture dish in which colonies of Staphylococcus bacteria were growing. The area adjacent to the mold was clear; the mold had prevented bacterial growth. That serendipitous accident led to the development of the antibiotic penicillin. It was fourteen years before penicillin was used on a patient, but its potential was quickly realized. It was among the most significant medical discoveries in history, for which Fleming was awarded the Nobel prize.

Question

Alexander Fleming had no idea on the morning of September 28, 1928, that he was about to save millions of lives. Returning to his lab after vacation, Fleming began sorting through his experiments. He discovered that mold had invaded a culture dish in which colonies of Staphylococcus bacteria were growing. The area adjacent to the mold was clear; the mold had prevented bacterial growth. That serendipitous accident led to the development of the antibiotic penicillin. It was fourteen years before penicillin was used on a patient, but its potential was quickly realized. It was among the most significant medical discoveries in history, for which Fleming was awarded the Nobel prize.

Which fictional technique used in this passage helps the reader comprehend the importance of the subject?

1 Extreme exaggeration is used throughout the passage, which identifies it as opinion rather than fact.

2 A dramatic statement is used in the first sentence to grab readers' attention for the story that follows.

3 Including personal details about Fleming helps set the scene for the surprise that concludes the passage.

Answer 1

The fictional technique used in this passage is:

2. A dramatic statement is used in the first sentence to grab readers' attention for the story that follows.

By stating that Alexander Fleming had no idea he was about to save millions of lives, it creates a sense of anticipation and intrigue for the reader, encouraging them to continue reading to find out how this will happen.