Read the passage about foolish opinions, observation, Aristotle, and hedgehogs, then answer the question. The author says that he believes that hedgehogs eat black beetles because he has been told so, but that he would not write it as fact in a serious book without observing it. What does the author imply about hedgehogs and black beetles in this passage?

Introduction / Context:
This question is taken from a passage that encourages careful observation instead of blind belief. The author uses a personal example involving hedgehogs and black beetles to show how one should be cautious when stating facts. The reader needs to identify what the author is really saying about his own experience with hedgehogs and black beetles.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The author says that he believes hedgehogs eat black beetles, because he has been told so.
• He adds that if he were writing a book on hedgehogs, he would first watch one actually eating that diet before stating it as fact.
• The author stresses that Aristotle was less cautious about similar matters.
• The central theme is the need for observation before making dogmatic statements.
• The passage does not claim that hedgehogs never eat black beetles.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested here is inference. The question is not asking what is literally said, but what is implied about the authors experience. He believes something on the basis of hearsay, but he has not yet verified it personally. Therefore, we must infer what that means about his actual observation of hedgehogs. The correct answer will be the one that logically follows from the idea that he would not write this fact in a serious work without seeing it himself.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the exact statement: the author believes that hedgehogs eat black beetles because he has been told so. Step 2: He then comments that if he were writing a book on hedgehogs, he would not commit himself until he had seen one eating this diet. Step 3: From this, infer that up to now he has not seen such an event, otherwise he would be able to treat it as direct observation. Step 4: The implication is therefore that his belief is second hand, not based on his own eyes. Step 5: Choose the option that best captures this lack of personal observation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check whether any option suggests that hedgehogs definitely do not eat black beetles. The passage does not say that; it only says the author has not yet verified it. So options that claim hedgehogs never eat black beetles go beyond the text. Also, there is no statement that he is currently writing a book on hedgehogs, only that he imagines what he would do in that situation. The only safe conclusion is that he has not seen them eating black beetles with his own eyes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B, which says hedgehogs eat only black beetles, is stronger than anything in the passage. It exaggerates a simple example to an exclusive diet.
• Option C claims that they do not eat black beetles at all. The passage simply does not give enough evidence for such a statement.
• Option D suggests that he is currently writing a book on hedgehogs. He gives a hypothetical situation, not a description of a present project.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in inference questions is to either over interpret or under interpret the text. Some readers take the personal belief as proof and assume the diet is certain, while others jump to the opposite extreme and conclude that the belief must be false. The correct approach is to focus on the difference between what is believed and what is observed. The author is making a point about evidence, not about hedgehogs specifically.

Final Answer:
The passage suggests that the author has only hearsay knowledge about the eating habits of hedgehogs and no direct observation so far. Therefore the correct option is He has never personally seen hedgehogs eating black beetles.