The discovery of penicillin in 1928 is often described as accidental: Alexander Fleming noticed mold contaminating a bacterial culture and observed that the bacteria around the mold had died. Yet this account, while broadly accurate, overlooks years of prior research on antibacterial substances that had prepared Fleming to recognize the significance of what he saw.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the text?
- Acheck_circle
It qualifies the conventional account by noting an underexamined dimension.
- B
It rejects the conventional account of Fleming's discovery as entirely false.
- C
It offers a competing theory about who actually discovered penicillin.
- D
It restates the conventional account using more precise language.
Explanation
The second sentence concedes the account is "broadly accurate" but adds nuance by noting prior research. That's a qualification, not a rejection (A) or restatement (C).