The people had very little machinery now. I had been struck with this over and over again, though I had not been more than four-and-twenty hours in the country. They were about as far advanced as Europeans of the twelfth or thirteenth century; certainly not more so. And yet they must have had at one time the fullest knowledge of our own most recent inventions. How could it have happened that having been once so far in advance they were now as much behind us? It was evident that it was not from ignorance.

Question

anonymous · Answer

They knew my watch as a watch when they saw it; and the care with which the broken machines were preserved and ticketed, proved that they had not lost the recollection of their former civilization. The more I thought, the less I could understand it; but at last I concluded that they must have worked out their mines of coal and iron, till either none were left, or so few, that the use of these metals was restricted to the very highest nobility. This was the only solution I could think of...

anonymous · Answer

What is the importance of the narrator's statement that "I concluded that they must have worked out their mines of coal and iron"?
Answer
		
Erewhon chose not to make machinery any more.
		
Erewhon was forced to use up its raw materials.
		
If Erewhon used its resources wisely, it would not be in this bad state.
		
Raw materials are not important for a civilization.

anonymous · Answer

@Kaggler

anonymous · Answer

@Kaggler right here

athenawolf · Answer

Well, I'm not Kaggler, but I think it's probably trying to address that the raw materials were gone, and thus the machinery was rendered useless, so they should have used them better.

anonymous · Answer

@AthenaWolf So option D ?

athenawolf · Answer

I don't think it's trying to say raw materials are bad exactly, because it also says that the civilization that used up all its materials is now behind the rest of the world.

anonymous · Answer

Option B or C ?

anonymous · Answer

C..

athenawolf · Answer

It never says they were forced to.

anonymous · Answer

@AnthenaWolf are you saying C too? or..?

athenawolf · Answer

yes, I am agreeing that it is C.

anonymous · Answer

lol okay