Read the following passage and answer the question below. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized the way information was shared across Europe. Before this innovation, books were copied by hand, a slow and expensive process that limited the availability of written material to wealthy individuals and religious institutions. Gutenberg's press used movable metal type, allowing individual letters to be arranged, inked, and pressed onto paper repeatedly, dramatically increasing the speed and reducing the cost of book production. Within decades, printing presses spread throughout Europe, leading to a significant rise in literacy rates and the widespread distribution of ideas. This new accessibility of information is often credited with fueling the Renaissance and later the Reformation, as ideas that were once confined to a small elite could now reach a much broader audience. The printing press is widely regarded as one of the most influential inventions in human history. Question: What can be inferred from the passage about the printing press's broader historical impact?
- A. It was quickly abandoned after its invention
- B. It had no effect outside the book industry
- C. It decreased the spread of ideas
- D. It helped fuel major intellectual movements like the Renaissance ✓
Correct answer
D. It helped fuel major intellectual movements like the Renaissance
Explanation
The passage credits the printing press with fueling the Renaissance and the Reformation by spreading ideas more widely.