Question:
Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows:
Machines were made to be man's servant, yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are on a fair way to become his master. Although most men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. And machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with and they must be kept at the right temperature. If they do not get their meals, they grow sulky and refuse to work or burst with rage and blow up and spread ruin and destruction all round them. So, we have to wait upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without machines, and a time may come when they will rule us as we rule the animals.
(b) Why should the machines be kept at the right temperature?
Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows:
Machines were made to be man's servant, yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are on a fair way to become his master. Although most men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. And machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with and they must be kept at the right temperature. If they do not get their meals, they grow sulky and refuse to work or burst with rage and blow up and spread ruin and destruction all round them. So, we have to wait upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without machines, and a time may come when they will rule us as we rule the animals.
(b) Why should the machines be kept at the right temperature?
Machines were made to be man's servant, yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are on a fair way to become his master. Although most men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. And machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with and they must be kept at the right temperature. If they do not get their meals, they grow sulky and refuse to work or burst with rage and blow up and spread ruin and destruction all round them. So, we have to wait upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without machines, and a time may come when they will rule us as we rule the animals.
(b) Why should the machines be kept at the right temperature?
Updated On: Sep 24, 2026
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: What the passage says:
The passage compares machines to "stern masters" who must be fed coal, given petrol to drink, oil to wash with, and kept at the right temperature.
Step 2: Reason:
Machines need to be kept at the right temperature because, like living masters, they will not function properly and may even become dangerous if this basic maintenance is neglected — an overheated or badly maintained machine can "grow sulky and refuse to work" or, worse, "burst with rage."
The passage compares machines to "stern masters" who must be fed coal, given petrol to drink, oil to wash with, and kept at the right temperature.
Step 2: Reason:
Machines need to be kept at the right temperature because, like living masters, they will not function properly and may even become dangerous if this basic maintenance is neglected — an overheated or badly maintained machine can "grow sulky and refuse to work" or, worse, "burst with rage."
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