OpenSAT

Question #N644

Although many historians consider the development of the printing press to be a watershed moment in the history of Western civilization, some historians argue that its impact was much less significant than is commonly believed. They point out that printing was only one factor in the larger revolution in communication that occurred in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was the invention of the printing press that revolutionized knowledge and information sharing, but it wasn't the only factor. The development of a more literate population, for example, played a key role in the dissemination of knowledge. What is the most likely reason why the writer uses the phrase "less significant than is commonly believed?"

The phrase "less significant than is commonly believed" is used to

A. suggest that the writer is going to argue a different point of view.

B. highlight the significance of the printing press in the history of Western civilization.

C. criticize the work of historians who have overestimated the impact of the printing press.

D. explain how the printing press made knowledge and information sharing more widely available.

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Correct Answer is: A

The phrase "less significant than is commonly believed" is used to suggest that the writer is going to argue a different point of view. The writer is arguing that the impact of the printing press may have been overstated by historians.