The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

To defend the sequence of alphabetisation may seem bizarre, so obvious is its application that it is hard to imagine a reference, catalogue or listing without it. But alphabetical order was not an immediate consequence of the alphabet itself. In the Middle Ages, deference for ecclesiastical tradition left scholars reluctant to categorise things according to the alphabet - to do so would be a rejection of the divine order. The rediscovery of the ancient Greek and Roman classics necessitated more efficient ways of ordering, searching and referencing texts. Government bureaucracy in the 16th and 17th centuries quickened the advance of alphabetical order, bringing with it pigeonholes, notebooks and card indexes.

Question

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

To defend the sequence of alphabetisation may seem bizarre, so obvious is its application that it is hard to imagine a reference, catalogue or listing without it. But alphabetical order was not an immediate consequence of the alphabet itself. In the Middle Ages, deference for ecclesiastical tradition left scholars reluctant to categorise things according to the alphabet - to do so would be a rejection of the divine order. The rediscovery of the ancient Greek and Roman classics necessitated more efficient ways of ordering, searching and referencing texts. Government bureaucracy in the 16th and 17th centuries quickened the advance of alphabetical order, bringing with it pigeonholes, notebooks and card indexes.

Accepted Answer

The passage explains that alphabetical order was not immediately adopted despite its utility because religious beliefs in the Middle Ages resisted categorization that deviated from divine order. It was only after practical needs arose—such as referencing texts during the rediscovery of Greek and Roman classics and managing government bureaucracy—that alphabetical order gained traction.

- **Option A** is incorrect because it mentions "adoption of the written alphabet," which is not discussed in this passage. The focus is on alphabetical *order*, not writing systems themselves.  
- **Option C** inaccurately states there was a "ban" on categorization methods other than divine ones, which is not mentioned in the passage; resistance due to religious beliefs is highlighted instead.  
- **Option D** misrepresents the timeline by implying that adoption was immediate once its efficacy became apparent, ignoring earlier resistance due to religious beliefs.  
- **Option B** correctly summarizes that religious beliefs and lack of appreciation for its practical utility delayed widespread acceptance of alphabetical order for centuries.

Thus, **Option B** best captures the essence of the passage's argument regarding historical resistance and eventual adoption of alphabetical order.

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