The writer says that if he was writing a book on hedgehogs ndash ........

English Language (Defence) Reading comprehension (P)

Directions – for the 5 (five) items which follow :
In this section you have six short passage. After each passage, you will find some questions based on the passage. First read a passage and answer the questions based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only.

Passage 1

To avoid the various foolish opinions to which mankind is prone, no superhuman brain is required. A few simple rules will keep you, not from all errors, but from silly errors. If the matter is one that can be settled by observation. Make the observation yourself. Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of thinking that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs. aristotle to keep her mouth open while he counted. Thinking that you know, when in fact you do not, is a bad mistake to which we are all prone. I believe myself that hedgehogs eat black beetles, because i have been told that they do; but if i were writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs, i should not commit myself until i had seen one enjoying this diet, aristotle, however, was less cautious. Ancient and medieval writers knew all about unicorns and salamanders; not one of them thought it necessary to avoid dogmatic statements about them because he had never seen one of them.

The writer says that if he was writing a book on hedgehogs –

he would maintain that they eat black beetles because he had been told so

he would first observe their eating habits

he would think it unnecessary to verify that they ate black beetles

he would make the statement that they ate black beetles and later verify it

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Explanation:

Aristotle writes if he were to write a book on hedgehogs if he would first see himself that they eat black beetal. He didn't want to write things with any proof. So statement 2 is the right option.