Who is widely regarded as the inventor of the movable type printing press that transformed book production in Europe?

Introduction / Context:
The movable type printing press is one of the most important inventions in human history because it made books cheaper and more widely available. This question asks about the inventor commonly credited with this breakthrough in Europe, Johannes Gutenberg. Knowing this fact is essential for general knowledge, world history, and culture based exams because it marks the beginning of the modern age of mass communication.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The invention is the movable type printing press used for mass printing of books and documents.
• The options include Johannes Gutenberg, William Lee, George Eastman, and R. W. Thomson.
• Each of the other names is associated with a different invention in technology and industry.

Concept / Approach:
The strategy is to match each inventor with the correct field. Gutenberg is tied to printing, William Lee to knitting machines, George Eastman to photographic film and Kodak, and R. W. Thomson to pneumatic tyres. Therefore, when the question mentions the printing press, Gutenberg should immediately come to mind. This makes it a straightforward recall based question once the associations are correctly learned.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the subject is the movable type printing press that began large scale printing in Europe.
Step 2: Recall that Johannes Gutenberg, a German inventor, is credited with this invention in the fifteenth century.
Step 3: Note that William Lee invented a knitting machine, which is unrelated to printing.
Step 4: Remember that George Eastman founded Kodak and popularised roll film and simple cameras.
Step 5: Recognise that R. W. Thomson worked on early pneumatic tyres, not on printing technology.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can think of the term Gutenberg Bible, which refers to one of the earliest major books printed with movable type in Europe. This name directly links Gutenberg with the printing press. No such connection exists between the other listed inventors and the history of printing. Therefore, historical evidence and common terminology both point firmly to Johannes Gutenberg as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
William Lee is wrong because he is known for the stocking frame knitting machine. George Eastman is wrong because his main contributions lie in photography and film technology. R. W. Thomson is wrong because he is associated with early pneumatic rubber tyres. None of these achievements involve the invention of the printing press, so they cannot answer the question correctly.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different inventors whose work affected communication and media, such as Eastman in photography and Gutenberg in printing. To avoid this, it helps to anchor each name to one core keyword: Gutenberg equals printing press, Eastman equals camera and film, and so on. Repeating these pairings during revision ensures quick recall in the exam and prevents mixing up technological contributions.

Final Answer:
The movable type printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg.