There are many (7)_____ with the thesis above, not the least of (8)_____ is that wealthy capitalists can buy the experts and knowledge they need to keep their profits and influence. But this does not (9)_____ the importance of knowledge in an advanced industrial society, as the (10)_____ of some new industries indicates. (11)_____, genetic engineering and the new computer technology have (12)_____ many new firms and made some scientists quite rich. In (13)_____ with criticism of the postindustrial society thesis, however, it must also be (14)_____ that those already in control of huge amounts of capital (i.e., major corporations) soon (15)_____ to take most profits in these industries based on new knowledge.
Moving down from the level of wealth and power, we still find knowledge increasingly (16)_____. Many new high-tech jobs are being created at the upper-middle-class level, but even more new jobs are being created in the low-skill, low-paying service (17)_____. Something like a caste line is emerging centered around knowledge. Individuals who fall too far behind in the (18)_____ of knowledge at a young age will find it almost impossible to catch up later, no matter how hard they try. Illiteracy in the English language has been a severe (19)_____ for many years in the United States, but we are also moving to the point when computer illiteracy will hinder many more people and (20)_____ them to a life of low-skill and low-paid labor.

A. quantitative
B. extensive
C. comprehensive
D. sophisticated