Answer:should be noted that, first paragraph of the passage enlightens us on the difference between preindustrial and industrial society in Europe and how great was it to an extent that “the modern
distinction between the categories of work and leisure” (lines 4-5) cannot be reasonably applied to the former, which implies that there exists a discontinuity between the two periods.
Furthermore, the second paragraph argues that the discontinuity approach can accommodate historical data.
On a final note, the third paragraph admits that, while it is very useful in some aspects, this approach “can pose problems of its own” (line 25) and it then briefly describes these problems. All this points to Choice E as correct.
The word “dichotomy” as it appears in the last paragraph of the passage. One of the key claims there is that the dichotomy “reduces a great variety … to the simple formula” (lines 31-33). Therefore Choice C is correct.
More so, “Simple dichotomy” is also mentioned in line 26. The passage states that this dichotomy “remains of use in so far as it reminds us that the rise of industrial capitalism” (lines 28-29) was not just an economic phenomenon, but also a social and a cultural phenomenon. This points to Choice A as correct.
We should also not forget that, the main purpose of the passage is to discuss the idea of “the central hypothesis of a fundamental discontinuity between preindustrial and industrial societies” (lines 1-3) in terms of the development of the concept of leisure. Large volume of the passage is focused on demonstrating the usefulness of this hypothesis; nonetheless, the second part of the third paragraph mentions some “distortions” (line 31) that may result if the hypothesis is accepted. Therefore Choice B is correct. Choices A, D, and E are incorrect, as only one hypothesis/solution is discussed in the passage. Choice C is incorrect, as the passage does not mention that the “distortions” (line 31) caused by accepting the hypothesis are illusory
