Question

read this excerpt from \the intelligent planet.\ hawthorne... marveled that this mysterious substance called electricity could transmit signals across thousands of miles and make inert machines spring suddenly to life. what is the meaning of the underlined term?
○ useless
○ modern
○ innovative
○ inactive

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "inert", we analyze the context: the machines "spring suddenly to life" after being inert, so "inert" should mean the opposite of active. "Inactive" matches this, as "useless" refers to lack of use, "modern" to time period, and "innovative" to new ideas—none fit the context of machines being non - active before electricity acts on them.

Answer:

D. inactive