Question

Read the sentence below: "If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." In this context, what does the word machine mean?

A group of people acting together

A mechanical, unfeeling force

An efficient, well-run force

An electronically operated device

Answer 1

A group of people acting together

Answer 2

The answer is: A group of people acting together

Step-by-step explanation:

As you can see, the first option along with the last options, are the only options that are actually nouns. The other options are adjectives, so the preposition "of" doesn't allow the following word to make sense with an adjective, see it this way: The efficient of government... sounds odd right? It´d rather be, the efficient government... without "of" same happens with the second option.

On the other hand, the last option is the least possible for it is the literal meaning of "machine" and well, in this context that isn't the point. We're talking about a machine as of an organization, a system, a group of people; and well, that's what the government is.