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 is the main idea of the passage?
- A. The printing press transformed the spread of information and had far-reaching effects ✓
- B. Literacy rates declined after the printing press was invented
- C. Books were always cheap to produce
- D. Gutenberg invented paper
Correct answer
A. The printing press transformed the spread of information and had far-reaching effects
Explanation
The passage explains how the printing press changed how information spread and influenced major historical movements.