Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Nobel Prize in 1952 for Peace
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The passage describes an incident at a Chicago railroad station in which reporters and city officials gather to welcome an important visitor. This visitor is introduced as a tall man with bushy hair and a large moustache who behaves with great humility and kindness, helping an elderly woman with her luggage. Toward the end of the passage, the narrator reveals that the man is Dr Albert Schweitzer and explicitly mentions the Nobel Prize he has received. The question asks us to recall exactly which Nobel Prize he won and in which year.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Reading comprehension questions like this test attention to detail. The information required is stated directly in the passage, so there is no need to infer or guess from outside knowledge. The key is to locate the exact phrase that mentions the prize and the year, then compare that wording with the options. It is important not to confuse the name of the prize category or the year, since similar looking distractors are included to catch careless reading.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the opening lines of the passage, which mention that reporters and officials were waiting for the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Step 2: Note that the person they are waiting for is later identified as Dr Albert Schweitzer.
Step 3: Focus on the wording 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner, which clearly states both the year and the category.
Step 4: Compare this with Option B, which says Nobel Prize in 1952 for Peace. This exactly matches the passage.
Step 5: Option A mentions Medicine, which is not supported by the passage.
Step 6: Option C mentions Chemistry, another incorrect category.
Step 7: Option D mentions 1953 for Peace, which changes the year and does not match the information given.
Step 8: Conclude that Option B is the only correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine reading the exact line again: Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Even though the meeting happens in 1953, the prize itself is clearly identified as the Nobel Peace Prize of 1952. Therefore, any option suggesting 1953 as the prize year is incorrect. Also, the passage emphasises Dr Schweitzer's work as a missionary doctor serving the poor in Africa and presents him as a humanitarian figure, which naturally aligns with a peace prize rather than a prize in Medicine or Chemistry.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nobel Prize in 1952 for Medicine: The passage never mentions a Nobel Prize for Medicine; it refers specifically to the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel Prize in 1952 for Chemistry: There is no reference to Chemistry anywhere in the passage; this is a distractor based on a different Nobel category.
Nobel Prize in 1953 for Peace: While the meeting takes place in 1953, the prize mentioned is from 1952, so the year in this option is incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to mix up dates or categories when several numbers and technical terms appear close together. Readers may also focus on the year of the meeting, 1953, and assume that the prize must be from the same year. Another pitfall is to rely on outside knowledge or guesses about a famous person instead of strictly following the passage. To avoid these errors, always go back to the text, find the exact phrase that contains the required detail, and match it carefully against the options.
Final Answer:
According to the passage, Dr Albert Schweitzer was the winner of the Nobel Prize in 1952 for Peace.
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