Ihave described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature.
what does the author mean by the word fervent?
1.bored
2.humiliated
3.passionate
4.distracted

The right answer is the 3) Passionate.

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that the word fervent comes from the Latin terms fervens, -entis and fervor, -ōris, which can be translated, respectively, as "hot" and "heat." From these etimological origins, the noun fervor has come to mean enthusiasm, ardor, and passion, and the adjective fervent has evolved to mean enthusiastic or passionate. In the passage, the author is describing him or herself as someone that has always had  a passionate desire to penetrate the secrets of nature.  

answer: it means that he would rather write than preach.

explanation: its what it says

im gonna take a guess and say gas vans and chambers