Multiple choice

Directions: The short passage below is followed by a question based on its content. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

The truth is that the history of the ancient world is to a great extent the history of lost opportunities. Once the Neolithic breakthrough had been achieved there was no invincible reason why man should not have progressed fairly rapidly towards an advanced industrial society. Yet archaic societies are notable not only for stagnation but retrogression. Decades and centuries rolled by without specific progress: often technology deteriorated as the adventurism behind its discovery was lost to sight. Archaic technology was empirical: that is discovered by trial and error rather than by analytical reasoning. Granted the enormous natural curiosity of man, or rather some men, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the wisdom of the individual was suppressed by the conservative folly of the collective. Thus old processes were retained even after better ones were discovered it is a curious fact that the significance of inventions originating in the Near East was only realized when they were adopted by other societies. Why was this?

What is the theme of the passage?

  1. Human history is a sad story of the murder of individual inquisitive spirit by the inertia of the collective.

  2. Technology always advances - although many may resist.

  3. Humans always oppose change due to inertia; history proves this.

  4. History tells us that man is a retrogressive creature.

  5. What we have achieved today could have been achieved eons ago, but for the collective stupidity of the majority.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The very first line of the passage clearly expresses the kind of view author has of human      history 'the history of last opportunities' and towards the end he clearly says that wisdom of the individual was suppressed by the conservative folly of collective. Only option (1) among answer choices goes close to truly represent the theme of the passage.

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