Question

question 14 of 20
read the passage below. which of the following does the author claim was the cause of england’s growing wealth and power?

for several thousand years no improvement was made in the art of fabricating cotton-wool into cloth. the art was in consequence depressed, and extended itself sluggishly. a brilliant series of mechanical inventions, made during the last age, so economized labor, as to enable one man to do the work of a hundred. by this revolution in its processes the manufacture received an astonishing impulse, and in a single age eclipsed the greatest phenomena in the annals of commerce. these inventions were made in england; and they form at once the most splendid triumph of science applied to the useful arts, and an abundant source of wealth to the nation. it is not extravagant to say, that the experiments of the humble mechanist have in their results added more to the power of england, than all the colonies ever acquired by her arms.¹

¹ edward baines, history of the cotton manufacture in great britain (london: h. fisher, r. fisher, and p. jackson, 1835), 32. http://archive.org/stream/historyofcottonm00bainrich#page/n13/mode/2up

a. a sluggish cotton industry that led england to pursue new resources
b. laborers being forced to work harder than ever before
c. new inventions that made manufacturing more efficient
d. the acquisition of valuable colonies around the world

Explanation:

The passage states that mechanical inventions during the last age economized labor (one man could do work of a hundred), gave the cotton manufacture an "astonishing impulse", and were a source of wealth and power to England. Option A is incorrect as the passage says the old cotton industry was sluggish and the inventions improved it, not that the sluggish industry led to new resources. Option B is wrong because the inventions reduced labor needs, not forced laborers to work harder. Option D is incorrect as the passage says the inventions added more to power than all colonies acquired by arms, so colonies weren't the cause. Thus, new efficient manufacturing inventions (option C) are the stated cause.

Answer:

C. New Inventions that made manufacturing more efficient