Many words in English carry traces of forgotten technologies. The verb "to clew up," used by sailors to describe gathering a sail's lower edge via attached cords called clew-lines, lives on in the everyday word "clue" — originally a ball of thread that, like Theseus's, could be used to find one's way out of a maze.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the text?
- A
It contradicts the general claim about etymological traces.
- Bcheck_circle
It illustrates the general claim with the specific etymology of 'clue'.
- C
It introduces a different language.
- D
It defines the term 'verb'.
Explanation
The "clue" etymology exemplifies the broader claim about forgotten technologies leaving linguistic traces. B captures this illustrative function.