Who is credited with inventing one of the first practical automobiles powered by a gasoline (petrol) internal combustion engine?

Introduction / Context:
Modern cars trace their roots to early experiments with self propelled vehicles. Several inventors tried steam engines, electricity and internal combustion engines. This question specifically asks about one of the first practical automobiles powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine, a major step toward the cars we know today.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The vehicle is an automobile, not a bicycle or carriage.
• The power source is a gasoline internal combustion engine.
• The question looks for a widely accepted pioneer in this area.
• The options include names from different areas of technology and transport.

Concept / Approach:
Karl Benz, a German engineer, built and patented an early practical automobile powered by a gasoline engine in the late nineteenth century. His three wheeled vehicle is often cited as the first modern car. Other figures such as Henry Ford later developed mass production methods, but Benz is the one usually credited with inventing the gasoline powered automobile itself.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase gasoline internal combustion engine, which narrows the field to specific inventors. Step 2: Recall that Karl Benz designed and built a self propelled vehicle driven by such an engine and obtained important patents for it. Step 3: Recognise that Henry Ford came later and is known for assembly line production rather than for the basic invention. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer is Karl Benz.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple verification is to note that many histories of the automobile industry introduce Benz as founder of a company whose name later merged into Mercedes-Benz. Kirkpatrick Macmillan is associated with the development of bicycles, and Thomas Edison is linked to electrical inventions, not gasoline cars. This alignment makes it clear that Benz fits the description in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Kirkpatrick Macmillan: Known as a pioneer of the modern pedal bicycle, not gasoline cars.
• Thomas Alva Edison: Famous for his work with electric light and power, not internal combustion automobiles.
• Henry Ford: Revolutionised car manufacturing but did not invent the first gasoline powered automobile.
• Gottlieb Daimler: Important in engine development but the question traditionally credits Benz for the first practical automobile.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often confuse Karl Benz and Henry Ford because both are early car industry names. Some think that the most famous mass producer must also be the inventor. To avoid this, remember the sequence: Benz built one of the first gasoline powered cars, and Ford made cars affordable through assembly lines. This mental timeline helps you choose correctly in questions like this one.

Final Answer:
Karl Benz is credited with inventing one of the first practical automobiles powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine.