Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows From the seeming irrelevancies of this archaeological gossip, some concrete meaning for the ambiguous term "knowledge" should yet have been emerging. It has at least been distinguished from instinctive "responses" and from what popular psychology terms "memories", as long as such remain personal and private. The knowledge embodied in the hand axes of the Old Stone Age was both useful and public. It enabled our remote precursors or ancestors to make serviceable tools such as they needed to supplement the deficiencies of their limbs and other bodily organs. And it was communicated to and transmitted by all human beings who made hand axes for thousands of generations. Thus this knowledge was preserved - but not only preserved. It was also enriched and extended. During the two or three hundred years over which hand axes were being made, archaeologists can detect improvements in their form and changes in the techniques of manufacture. More efficient tools were produced with less effort. These progressive changes reflect additions to knowledge, discoveries and inventions that were made public and incorporated in the traditional lore or knowledge used, transmitted and maintained by Old Stone Age societies. Of course, the progressive change observed in archaeologists' "hand axes" is just one case of the general technological progress from simple manual tools of stone and bone to complicated machines made of metallic alloys and other artificial substances and operated by electrical or even nuclear power. It is this technological progress that has secured for Homo sapiens the victory over all competitors in the evolutionary race for survival. But technological progress in its turn is just the result and consequence of the accumulation of knowledge. That accumulation was possible just because human knowledge is public; one member of the species can communicate to another what he has found out.
Technological progress is the result of the accumulation of ________
Knowledge
Analyzing the Passage for Technological Progress
The question asks about the cause of technological progress according to the provided passage. To answer this, we need to carefully read the passage and find the sentence or sentences that discuss technological progress and its origins.
Locating the Key Information
The passage describes how knowledge, unlike personal memories, is public, useful, and transmitted. It uses the example of hand axes in the Old Stone Age to illustrate how knowledge was preserved, enriched, and extended over time through discoveries and inventions, leading to progressive changes in tools.
The passage then explicitly links this to overall technological progress:
It is this technological progress that has secured for Homo sapiens the victory over all competitors in the evolutionary race for survival. But technological progress in its turn is just the result and consequence of the accumulation of knowledge. That accumulation was possible just because human knowledge is public; one member of the species can communicate to another what he has found out.
This section directly states that technological progress is a "result and consequence" of the "accumulation of knowledge".
Identifying the Correct Answer
Based on the direct statement in the passage, technological progress arises from the accumulation of knowledge. Let's look at the options provided:
- Option 1: Knowledge
- Option 2: Raw-material
- Option 3: Surplus
- Option 4: Wealth
The passage clearly identifies the accumulation of knowledge as the driver of technological progress. Therefore, Option 1 is the correct answer.
Evaluating Other Options
The passage does not state that technological progress is a result of raw material, surplus, or wealth accumulation. While these factors might play a role in the application or scale of technological progress, the passage specifically attributes the progress itself to the accumulation and public nature of knowledge.
Conclusion
The passage directly supports the idea that technological progress is a consequence of the accumulation of knowledge, which is possible because knowledge can be communicated and shared among individuals and generations. This shared and growing body of knowledge allows for improvements, discoveries, and inventions that drive technological advancement.
| Concept | Origin/Cause (as per passage) |
|---|---|
| Technological Progress | Accumulation of Knowledge |
Revision Table: Understanding Technological Progress
| Term | Passage's Relevance | Why it is the Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | Defined as public, useful, transmitted; its accumulation leads to technological progress. | The passage explicitly states technological progress is a result of the accumulation of knowledge. |
| Raw-material | Tools (like hand axes) are made of materials, but the progress is in the design/technique. | Not mentioned as the primary cause of technological progress itself. |
| Surplus | Not mentioned in relation to technological progress. | Not the cause identified in the passage. |
| Wealth | Not mentioned in relation to technological progress. | Not the cause identified in the passage. |
Additional Information: Knowledge and Technological Advancement
The passage highlights a crucial aspect of human development: the ability to accumulate and share knowledge. This cumulative nature is distinct from the instinctive behaviors of other species. By making discoveries and inventions public and transmitting them across generations, societies build upon past achievements. This shared 'traditional lore' or public knowledge base enables continuous improvement and the creation of increasingly complex and efficient technologies, from simple stone tools to modern machines. The passage argues that it is this unique human capacity for accumulating and building upon shared knowledge that has been fundamental to our evolutionary success and the development of technological progress.
Important Questions from Basic Sociology
Serviceable tools were needed to supplement the deficiencies of
What was the knowledge embodied in the hand axes of the Old Stone Age?
Archaeologists can detect in the form of hand axes and change in ________
The distinction in knowledge has emphasized through _______
In which year was the word Sociology first used?
