Select the correct answer.
Which of these excerpts is one of the main arguments in Jack London's "The Human Drift"?
A.
The history of civilization is a history of wandering, sword in hand, in search of food.
B.
As soon as [man's] evolution permitted, he made himself better devices for killing than the old natural ones of fang and claw.
C.
And yet, despite this terrible roll of death, there are to-day alive on the planet a billion and three quarters of human beings.
D.
And to this day, [man's] finest creative energy and technical skill are devoted to the same old task of making better and ever better killing weapons.
A. The history of civilization is a history of wandering, sword in hand, in search of food.
The correct answer is B. "As soon as [man's] evolution permitted, he made himself better devices for killing than the old natural ones of fang and claw." This excerpt from "The Human Drift" by Jack London is one of the main arguments in the book.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the main arguments in Jack London's "The Human Drift." To do this, we can analyze each excerpt and see if it aligns with the main arguments presented in the text.
A. The history of civilization is a history of wandering, sword in hand, in search of food.
This argument suggests that throughout history, humans have had to constantly roam and fight in order to find sustenance. While this may be a theme explored in the text, it may not be one of the main arguments.
B. As soon as [man's] evolution permitted, he made himself better devices for killing than the old natural ones of fang and claw.
This argument focuses on the advancement of human tools and weapons and how they have surpassed natural forms of defense and attack. This could be a potential main argument in "The Human Drift."
C. And yet, despite this terrible roll of death, there are today alive on the planet a billion and three quarters of human beings.
This argument highlights the vast number of humans on the planet despite the significant presence of death. While this may be a point emphasized in the text, it is not a main argument.
D. And to this day, [man's] finest creative energy and technical skill are devoted to the same old task of making better and ever better killing weapons.
This argument suggests that humans' greatest efforts are still focused on creating superior weapons for killing. This fits with the theme of progress in weaponry and could be considered a main argument in "The Human Drift."
Based on this analysis, the correct answer would be either B or D. To definitively determine which is the main argument in "The Human Drift," it would be best to consult the text or literary criticism analyzing the work.