What is the meaning of Enlightenment?

• A. A religious reform movement.
• B. A political revolution.
• C. European intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism.
• D. A military alliance.

Answer: (C)

The meaning tested is the idea of the Enlightenment as a European intellectual movement that emphasized reason, science, and the power of individuals to think for themselves. During the 17th and 18th centuries, thinkers argued that human beings could understand the world through rational inquiry, challenge traditional authority, and improve society through education, tolerance, and secular governance. This fits best because the Enlightenment is about a broad shift in thought and culture, not about a religious reform movement focused on church structures, nor a political revolution by itself, nor a military alliance. It reflects the emphasis on reason and individualism that defines the era.