Final answer:
Edmond Hoyle wrote "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist" in 1742, which standardized the rules for Whist. John Locke, another influential figure, believed in natural rights and government by social contract.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1742, the author who wrote "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist" as a prelude to his writings on other games was d) Edmond Hoyle. He is renowned for his works on the rules and play of card games, and "A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist" helped standardize the game of Whist and also set a precedent for writing about games and their rules. As for the referenced English philosopher who argued that all people are born free in a state of nature and that the government should exist only by their consent, the correct answer is b) John Locke. John Locke elaborated on these ideas in his work "Second Treatise of Government", wherein he speaks of natural rights that include life, liberty, and property, and the formation of a government through a social contract.