Question

man early discovered death. as soon as his evolution permitted, he made himself better devices for killing than the old natural ones of fang and claw.
which of these supporting premises reinforces the thesis statement?
i. like a settler clearing land of its weeds and forest bushes in order to plant corn, so man was compelled to clear all manner of life away in order to plant himself.
ii. he devoted himself to the invention of killing devices before he discovered fire or manufactured for himself religion.
iii. and ever he has carried the battle wider and wider, until to - day not only is he a far more capable killer of men and animals than ever before, but he has pressed the battle home to the infinite and invisible hosts of menacing lives in the world of microorganisms.
iv. and from the fear - stricken, jungle - lurking, cave - haunting creature of long ago, he won to empery over the whole animal world.
a. i
b. i and ii
c. iv
d. i, ii and iii
e. ii and iv

Explanation:

• Statement I: Compares man clearing life to a settler clearing land, showing man's drive to eliminate other life forms (related to making killing devices as in the thesis).
• Statement II: Highlights man's focus on inventing killing devices early (before fire or religion), reinforcing the idea of man's pre - occupation with better killing means.
• Statement III: Shows the expansion of man's killing capabilities over time (more capable killers and fighting microorganisms), which is in line with the evolution of man's killing devices.
• Statement IV: Talks about man's empery over the animal world but does not directly relate to the thesis about man making better killing devices than natural ones.

Answer:

D. I, II and III