TEXT A There seems never to have
been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown.
They probably came about just to give children something to do.
In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of
toys and most girls with others. In societies where social roles are rigidly
determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and
girls after the tasks of their mothers. This is true because boys and girls are
being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the
adult world. What is remarkable about the history of toys is not
so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the
same. The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship, mechanics, and
technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in
all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing. In
Egypt, the Americas, China, Japan and among the Arctic peoples, generally the
same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and ways of
life because toys imitate their surroundings. Nearly every civilization had
dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have
not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult
use. The progress from the wheel to the oxcart to the automobile is a direct
line of ascent. The progress from a rattle used by a baby in 3000 BC to one used
by an infant today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle
is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the
limitations of available materials. Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys
A.The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged. B.Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries. C.The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years. D.Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character.