Question

the steam engine
the idea of using steam for driving stationary machinery originated in
early centuries. for a long time, no one seemed to have thought of using the
steam for transportation purposes. in the earlier historical records, there is
mention of \heat engines,\ which were used for organ blowing, the turning of
spits, and like purposes. but from this early date until the 17th century,
practically no progress was made in the use of steam. though men had
experimented with steam up to this time with more or less success, the
world is chiefly indebted for the developed type of the steam engine to
james watt and george stephenson.
james watt, who secured the position as a maker of scientific
instruments in the university of glasgow, proposed an idea for improving the
existing steam engine, which was used for pumping mines. for a long time,
owing to a lack of money, he had difficulty in establishing the merits of his
improvements. finally, he formed a partnership with matthew boulton, a
wealthy and energetic man who lived at birmingham, england. they began
the manufacture of steam engines at birmingham, under the firm name of
boulton and watt. this partnership was very successful. watt supplied the
inventions; boulton furnished the money and attended to the stress.
before the time of watt, the steam engine was exclusively a steam pump
—slow and wasteful of fuel. watt made it a quick, powerful, and efficient
engine, requiring only a fourth as much fuel as before. under his first patent,
the engine was still used only as a steam pump, but his later improvements
adapted it for driving stationary machinery of all kinds. the commercial
success of his engine was soon fully established.
george stephenson further modified boulton and watt companys
creation. stephenson initiated the use of steam for carrying passengers and
goods. in september 1825, the first train passed over the road. it consisted
of thirty - four cars weighing, all told, ninety tons. the train was pulled by
stephensons engine, operated by stephenson himself, with a signalman
riding on horseback in advance. the train moved off at the rate of ten or
twelve miles an hour, and on certain parts of the road it reached a speed of

2
select the correct answer.
which sentence from the passage supports the idea that the \world is chiefly indebted\ to james watt and george stephenson for developing the
steam engine?
a. before the time of watt, the steam engine was exclusively a steam pump—slow and wasteful of fuel.
b. the first train consisted of thirty - four cars weighing, all told, ninety tons.
c. the idea of using steam for driving stationary machinery originated in the early centuries.
d. watt made it a quick, powerful, and efficient engine, requiring only a fourth as much fuel as before.
reset next
2026 edmentum. all rights reserved

Explanation:

To determine which sentence supports the idea that the world is “chiefly indebted” to Watt and Stephenson for developing the steam engine, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Describes the steam engine before Watt, but doesn't show his contribution to making it worthy of indebtedness.
• Option B: Talks about the first train's composition, not about Watt and Stephenson's development of the steam engine.
• Option C: Mentions the origin of using steam for stationary machinery, not related to Watt and Stephenson's development.
• Option D: Shows that Watt made the engine quick, powerful, efficient, and fuel - efficient (requiring a fourth as much fuel). This improvement is a significant development that would make the world indebted to him for advancing the steam engine.

Answer:

D. Watt made it a quick, powerful, and efficient engine, requiring only a fourth as much fuel as before.