Passage (Michael Faraday, *The Chemical History of a Candle*, Lecture I, 1860–61): "I purpose, in return for the honour you do us by coming to see what are our proceedings here, to bring before you, in the course of these lectures, the Chemical History of a Candle. I have taken this subject on a former occasion; and were it left to my own will, I should prefer to repeat it almost every year — so abundant is the interest that attaches itself to the subject, so wonderful are the varieties of outlet which it offers into the various departments of philosophy. There is not a law under which any part of this universe is governed which does not come into play, and is touched upon in these phenomena. There is no better, there is no more open door by which you can enter into the study of natural philosophy, than by considering the physical phenomena of a candle. And before proceeding, let me say this also — that though our subject be so great, and our intention that of treating it honestly, seriously, and philosophically, yet I mean to pass away from all those who are seniors amongst us. I claim the privilege of speaking to juveniles as a juvenile myself." What is the function of the concessive clause "though our subject be so great, and our intention that of treating it honestly, seriously, and philosophically"?
ATo set up a contrast between the dignity of the subject and the familiar, juvenile register the lecturer will adopt.
BTo warn the audience that the subject may be too difficult to follow.
CTo apologise for the lecturer's lack of expertise in chemistry.
DTo distinguish Faraday's approach from the methods of contemporary physicists.
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. To set up a contrast between the dignity of the subject and the familiar, juvenile register the lecturer will adopt.
The clause acknowledges (concedes) that the subject is **great** and the intention is **serious** — *yet*, the sentence continues, the lecturer will turn away from seniors and speak as a *juvenile*. The concessive structure (*though X, yet Y*) sets up a contrast: dignified subject + familiar register. Faraday is signalling that he will reconcile high content with low style.
This is a classic GRE structural move: a concessive clause that anticipates an apparent tension the speaker plans to *embrace*, not resolve away.
- **A** would require Faraday to warn the audience of difficulty; he is doing the opposite (defending accessibility).
- **C** introduces an apology Faraday doesn't make.
- **D** brings in a comparison to contemporaries that the passage doesn't touch.
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