The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: Historically, silver has been, and still is, an important element in the business of 'show' visible in private houses, churches, government and diplomacy.
Paragraph: ____(1) ____. Timothy Schroder put it succinctly in suggesting that electric light and eating in the kitchen eroded this need. As he explained to the author, 'Silver, when illuminated by flickering candlelight, comes alive and almost dances before the eyes, but when lit by electric light it becomes flat and dead.' ____(2) ____. Domestic and economic changes may have worked against the market, but the London silver trade remained buoyant, thanks to the competition of collectors seeking grand display silver at the top end, and the buyers of 'collectables', like spoons and wine labels and 'novelties', at the bottom. ____(3) ____. Another factor that came into play was the systematic collection building of certain American museums over the period. Boston, Huntington Art Gallery and Williamsburg, among others, were largely supplied by London dealers. ____(4) ____.
Answer: A
The sentence says silver has long been a key part of the business of "show" in houses, churches, government and diplomacy. It is a general opening statement that sets up the idea of display.
Slot 1 fits best. The very next sentence says Schroder explained how electric light and eating in the kitchen "eroded this need". "This need" has no antecedent in the paragraph as given. The missing sentence supplies it: the need for silver as show in private houses. The Schroder quote about candlelight and electric light then explains why domestic display lost its appeal.
- Slot 2 would break a continuous thread. "Domestic and economic changes may have worked against the market" follows directly from Schroder's domestic examples.
- Slot 3 would separate the collectors (the first factor keeping the trade buoyant) from "Another factor", which needs that first factor right before it.
- Slot 4 leaves a broad historical claim dangling after a specific point about American museums buying from London dealers, and "this need" earlier would still lack a referent.
Slot 1 corresponds to option (A), labelled "Option 1".
Hence, the answer is (A).