Explanation
This question references a specific line of the passage,
which says that the calorimeter "provided a common ground to the two fields in
its own concrete existence and quantitative measure, if not entirely in
concept" (lines 33-36). In other words, the concepts behind it was different in
the two fields, but the device itself, the actual physical thing, was shared by
both fields. Choices (A) and (D) both are in the vicinity of this notion (a
single physical device uniting different ideas). The idea that the calorimeter
was a symbol is somewhat opposite to this idea and is not supported by the
passage, so (C) and (E) are out. Choice (B) is summarizing the wrong thing,
"quantitative measure," not "concrete existence," so it's out. Between (A) and
(D), choice (A) more accurately expresses the passage. The mediation that is
occurring is one of "abstract ideas"--in this case, "chemical substances" (lines
24-25) and "forces" (line 27)--not scientists who don't want to cooperate. The
personal differences of L&L are significant primarily in that they
highlight the two scientists' different views of the world, not because those
differences are the subject of the mediation Wise is describing.
Therefore, the correct answer is (A).
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