When Ebright was in his early years, he entered a science fair but did not win anything because he had simply displayed a collection of butterflies without doing any experiment or real scientific work. This experience taught him an important lesson: to win and succeed in science, it is not enough to just collect or display things. One must also observe, ask questions, and conduct proper experiments. This motivated him to take up genuine scientific research in the future.
Source: The Making of a Scientist, Chapter 6
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The passage does not directly state this lesson, but the textbook (chapter context) implies it. The key point examiners expect is: Ebright learned that real science involves observation and experiments, not just collecting and displaying specimens. This is a standard inference question from this chapter — make sure to mention both what he lacked (no experiment) and what he learned (need for genuine inquiry). Avoid writing a vague general answer; be specific to Ebright's situation.