Question

They eat and drink out of vessels of earth or glass, which make an agreeable appearance, though formed of brittle materials; while they make their chamber-pots and close-stools of gold and silver, and that not only in their public halls but in their private houses. Of the same metals they likewise make chains and fetters for their slaves, to some of which, as a badge of infamy, they hang an earring of gold, and make others wear a chain or a coronet of the same metal; and thus they take care by all possible means to render gold and silver of no esteem . . .

–Utopia,
Thomas More

What is the central idea of this passage?

The Utopians eat and drink out of brittle glasses.
The Utopians make their chamber-pots out of gold.
The Utopians use gold to make earrings and other valuable jewelry.
The Utopians work hard to make gold and silver seem less valuable

Answer 1

The Utopians work hard to make gold and silver seem less valuable.

Explanation: The passage contrasts using humble materials for eating while reserving gold and silver for shameful objects (chamber-pots, slave fetters) to deliberately devalue those metals.