The Time Traveller Explains
H. G. Wells, The Time Machine (1895), selected excerpts with intervening sentences omitted. Public domain.
Source: H. G. Wells, The Time Machine (1895)
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The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us. His pale grey eyes shone and twinkled, and his usually pale face was flushed and animated.
"You must follow me carefully. I shall have to controvert one or two ideas that are almost universally accepted. The geometry, for instance, they taught you at school is founded on a misconception." "Is not that rather a large thing to expect us to begin upon?" said Filby, an argumentative person with red hair.
"I do not mean to ask you to accept anything without reasonable ground for it. You will soon admit as much as I need from you. You know of course that a mathematical line, a line of thickness nil, has no real existence. They taught you that? Neither has a mathematical plane. These things are mere abstractions."
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
How does the Time Traveller expect his listeners to react to his ideas at first?
The answer is B: With skepticism
He says he will "controvert" widely accepted ideas but won't ask them to accept anything "without reasonable ground," anticipating doubt he intends to argue past.
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Question 2 of 4
What example does the Time Traveller give of an abstraction with "no real existence"?
The answer is B: A mathematical line of zero thickness
He cites "a mathematical line, a line of thickness nil" and a "mathematical plane" as mere abstractions.
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Question 3 of 4
"Recondite" as used here most nearly means:
The answer is B: obscure or difficult
A recondite matter is a deep or obscure one. That fits, since he must explain it carefully.
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Question 4 of 4
What is mainly happening in this passage?
The answer is B: The Time Traveller begins overturning accepted ideas, starting with school geometry
He says he will challenge accepted ideas, starting with school geometry. He also promises evidence for each step.
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