Read the first sentence of the text: there never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. what is the main purpose of this sentence in the essay? to describe the misery of early human existence to explain how early fires were started to suggest humans have an easier life than we once did to support the idea that matches really changed human life

The answer is indeed letter D) To support the idea that matches really changed human life.

Explanation:

The excerpt given in the question was taken from the book "Stories of Useful Inventions" by S. E. Forman, more specifically from the very first chapter, called "The Match". We can find it in the second paragraph:

There never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire; and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they learned how to kindle one easily. In these days we can kindle a fire without any trouble, because we can easily get a match; but we must remember that the match is one of the most wonderful things in the world, and that it took men thousands of years to learn how to make one. Let us learn the history of this familiar little object, the match.

As we can tell, the author's intention is to show readers that the invention of the match changed our reality. Fire is a necessity; it has always been. But before we had this simple and easy way to start it by using a match, we had to count on nature to kindle it for us. According to the author, ashes from a volcano or a lightning striking a tree could very well start a fire, but humans would have to carry that fire back home and try their best not the let it extinguish. How much easier it is nowadays to do it with practically no effort, all thanks to the match!

The poem's theme is about the origin of action. There is a contrast between what sets nature in motion and what sets human beings in motion. Nature works by itself but human beings need to have a goal in life. This goal will ignite action.

These are some examples of  poetic devices in the poem. Personification: " ..winter slumbering in the open air; // wears on his smiling...". Repetition of words: " Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing". Alliteration: " ..blow// flow"; "may//..away"; "..stroll// ...soul" // "..sieve//..live". Metaphor: " Work without hope draws...in a seive."  These devices  put emphasis on the poet's lament. Winter is finishing and spring is arriving. Spring makes the natural world work with more energy. The poet contemplates this and feels paralised, without  energy. There is a contrast between the energy in nature and the lack of energy in the poet. By the end of the poem, the poet sets his conclusion: human work is driven by hope.If there is no hope, work becomes useless.

The tone of the poem is sad; it sounds like a lament. The poet is aware of the power in nature but he  wishes he had that drive to move on. As far as the organization is concerned, the poet contemplates nature in the first four lines and expresses his passive attitute towards the natural world in the fifth and  sixth lines. Then, six more lines refer to the poet's attitude towards nature: he knows that nature is in motion by itself. Nature does not need the help of any human soul to make it work.He summarises his point in the last two lines of the poem. This is that human hope is what makes human work function. Human beings should have a goal in life.