Multiple choice

The opening line of the paragraph has been deleted. Which among the following constitutes the opening statement?

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Many such have been made by the ingenuity of the makers of the machines, when to make them became the business of a peculiar trade; and some by that of those who are called philosophers or men of speculation, whose trade it is not to do anything, but to observe everything; and who, upon that account, are often capable of combining together the powers of the most distant and dissimilar objects. In the progress of society, philosophy or speculation becomes, like every other employment, the principal or sole trade and occupation of a particular class of citizens. Like every other employment too, it is subdivided into a great number of different branches, each of which affords occupation to a peculiar tribe or class of philosophers; and this subdivision of employment in philosophy, as well as in every other business, improves dexterity, and saves time. Each individual becomes more expert in his own peculiar branch, more work is done upon the whole, and the quantity of science is considerably increased by it.

  1. Scientific inventions have not been the privilege of a few.

  2. All the improvements in machinery have by no means been the inventions of those who had occasion to use the machines.

  3. Necessity has not always been the mother of inventions.

  4. The improvement of machines has passed through many stages and generations of committed individuals.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (A): “Many such have been made by the ingenuity of the makers” ought to be preceded by mention about non-makers, not by 'few'. Option (B): ): “Many such have been made by the ingenuity of the makers” ought to be preceded by mention about non-makers, i.e. users. Hence, the answer. Option (C): “Many such” should be preceded by a plural noun. This renders the option unsuitable. Option (D): “Many such have been made by the ingenuity of the makers” ought to be preceded by mention about non-makers, not by 'generations of committed individuals'. Option (E): “Many such” refers to machines, not to innovations.