Passage Context Analysis

The passage describes a hypothetical world devoid of printed materials like books and newspapers. It sets up a scenario contrasting the present situation with the past, specifically before a significant historical event.

Blank 2 Word Choice

We need to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 2 in the sentence: "People (2) ________ none of these things (3) ________ Johann Gutenberg of Strasbourg invented the printing press." This sentence aims to convey that the mentioned printed materials were unavailable or non-existent for people before Gutenberg's invention.

Analyzing Option 1: 'had'

Let's examine the option 'had' for blank 2:

• Grammar: 'Had' is the past perfect or simple past tense of the verb 'to have'. It signifies possession or experience in the past.
• Contextual Fit: The sentence "People had none of these things..." correctly expresses the lack of possession or availability of printed materials in the past. It sets up the context for the invention mentioned later. The structure implies that before Gutenberg's invention, people did not possess or have access to these items.
• Example: Consider the sentence, "Before electricity, people had no way to light their homes instantly." This structure is similar and grammatically sound.

Evaluating Other Options

• 'in': "People in none of these things..." - This is grammatically incorrect and doesn't make sense in the context.
• 'from': "People from none of these things..." - This is also grammatically incorrect and illogical here.
• 'at': "People at none of these things..." - This option doesn't fit grammatically or logically.

Conclusion for Blank 2

Based on the grammatical structure and the context of the passage, the verb 'had' is the most suitable choice for blank 2. It correctly indicates the past state of people not possessing printed materials prior to the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg.

Therefore, the completed sentence fragment reads: "People had none of these things..."