Question

read the passage from of the wisdom of the ancients. let us now consider his cupid’s attributes. he is described with great elegance as a little child, and a child for ever, for things compounded are larger and are affected by age; whereas the primary seeds of things, or atoms, are minute and remain in perpetual infancy. most truly also is he represented as naked: for all compounds (to one that considers them rightly) are masked and clothed, and there is nothing properly naked, except the primary particles of things. bacon lists cupid’s attributes in order to 〇 show that cupid is real 〇 prove that cupid is a child 〇 disprove the existence of the atom 〇 compare them to the features of the atom

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage doesn't aim to show Cupid is real. It focuses on attributes' comparison, not reality.
• Option 2: Proving Cupid is a child is not the main goal. The text uses his childish nature to compare to atoms.
• Option 3: The passage doesn't try to disprove atoms' existence. It uses Cupid's attributes to parallel atom features.
• Option 4: The text compares Cupid's attributes (child, naked) to atoms (minute, perpetual infancy; primary particles, unmasked). So Bacon lists Cupid’s attributes to compare them to atom features.

Answer:

D. compare them to the features of the atom