Read the passage and answer the following questions. To avoid the various foolish opinions to which mankind is prone, no superhuman brain is required. A few simple rules will keep you, not from all errors, but from silly errors. If the matter is one that can be settled by observation, make the observation yourself. Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs. Aristotle to keep her mouth open while he counted. Thinking that you know, when in fact you do not, is a bad mistake to which we are all prone. I believe myself that hedgehogs eat black beetles, because I have been told that they do; but if I were writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs, I should not commit myself until I had seen one enjoying this diet. Aristotle, however, was less cautious. Ancient and medieval writers knew all about unicorns and salamanders; not one of them thought it necessary to avoid dogmatic statements about them because he had never seen one of them.
The writer says that if he was writing a book on hedgehogs
he would first observe their eating habits
Understanding the Writer's Approach to Evidence
The question asks what the writer would do if he were writing a book specifically about hedgehogs. To answer this, we need to carefully read the part of the passage where the writer discusses hedgehogs and black beetles.
Analyzing the Relevant Passage Text
The writer states:
"I believe myself that hedgehogs eat black beetles, because I have been told that they do; but if I were writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs, I should not commit myself until I had seen one enjoying this diet."
This sentence contains two parts:
- His current belief is based on hearsay ("because I have been told that they do").
- His approach if writing a book is different: he "should not commit myself until I had seen one enjoying this diet."
The phrase "should not commit myself until I had seen one enjoying this diet" is crucial. It means he would not state it as a fact in his book unless he had direct observation or evidence.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option based on the passage:
- Option 1: he would maintain that they eat black beetles because he had been told so.
This contradicts the passage. He explicitly says he *would not commit* himself if writing a book, even though he currently believes it based on being told.
- Option 2: he would first observe their eating habits.
This aligns perfectly with the passage. Not committing himself "until I had seen one enjoying this diet" is exactly describing the process of observing their eating habits before making a statement in the book.
- Option 3: he would think it unnecessary to verify that they ate black beetles.
This contradicts the passage. The whole point of waiting until he had "seen one" is to verify the information through observation.
- Option 4: he would make the statement that they ate black beetles and later verify it.
This also contradicts the passage. He says he would *not commit* himself (make the statement) *until* he had seen it (verified). The verification happens *before* committing to the statement in the book, not after.
Conclusion
Based on the writer's clear statement in the passage, if he were writing a book on hedgehogs, his approach would be to base his statements on direct observation, not just hearsay.
| Action if Writing Book | Passage Text | Matches Passage? |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain belief based on hearsay | "...but if I were writing a book... I should not commit myself until I had seen one..." | No |
| First observe eating habits | "...until I had seen one enjoying this diet." (Seeing is observing) | Yes |
| Unnecessary to verify | "...until I had seen one..." (Seeing implies verification) | No |
| Make statement and later verify | "...should not commit myself until I had seen one..." (Verification is before committing) | No |
Therefore, the action he would take if writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs is to first observe their eating habits.
Revision Table: Understanding Passage Details
| Concept | Explanation from Passage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding Foolish Opinions | Requires simple rules, not superhuman brain. | Emphasizes practicality and accessibility of logical thinking. |
| Settling Matter by Observation | Make the observation yourself (e.g., Aristotle counting teeth). | Highlights the value of empirical evidence over assumption. |
| Belief vs. Commitment in Writing | Believes hedgehogs eat black beetles based on hearsay, but wouldn't state it in a book without seeing it. | Distinguishes personal belief from verified knowledge required for formal writing. |
| Ancient/Medieval Writers | Made dogmatic statements about unseen creatures (unicorns, salamanders). | Used as an example of the mistake (dogmatic statements without observation) the writer aims to avoid. |
Additional Information: Empirical Evidence and Verification
The passage strongly advocates for using empirical evidence, which means information gained from observation or experiment. This is a fundamental principle in many fields, including science and careful research.
- Empirical Evidence: Knowledge acquired through observation and experience.
- Verification: The process of checking or proving that something is true, accurate, or justified. In the context of the passage, verification comes through direct observation ("seeing one enjoying this diet").
- Hearsay: Information received from other people that cannot be substantiated; rumour. The passage warns against relying solely on hearsay when making formal claims.
- Dogmatic Statements: Statements asserted as true without evidence or proof. The writer criticizes ancient/medieval writers for this approach regarding unicorns and salamanders.
By emphasizing observation before making claims in a book, the writer demonstrates a commitment to verification and the use of empirical evidence, contrasting it with the dogmatic approach based on unfounded belief or hearsay.
Similar Questions
The general tone of the passage is
The use of machines has failed to bring us
According to the passage, our civilization would be made greater
Plastic has distressing effects on
According to the passage, how do we use the powers bestowed upon us by science?
- According to the passage, which one of the following descriptions about machines is true?
- The word 'clogging' in the passage means
- Plastic and plastic particles can be found
Plastic pollution appears to be
Plastic is considered an essential commodity because
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What best describes bulimia?
When an activity requires too much effort we feel:
What kind of attitude does the writer advocate for a life of fulfilment?
Why did the young lady approach the piano teacher for music lessons?
What does 'bread making' attitude consist of?
