Select the most appropriate option to substitute the highlighted segment in the given sentence.
Charles Darwin is renowned for his book on evolution, ‘On the Origin of Species’, which laid down a treasure of substantiation that evolution occurs, and projected a mechanism, that is, natural selection, for how it does so.

Correct option is D

The correct substitution of the highlighted words is laid out a treasure of substantiation.
· Explanation:
· "Laid out" is the correct phrasal verb here, meaning "to present or explain something in detail" (विस्तारपूर्वक प्रस्तुत करना).
· "Laid down" refers to establishing rules or principles, which doesn't fit the context.
Example: The researcher laid out his findings in a detailed presentation.
Explanation of other options and phrasal verbs with "laid":
1. Laid into:
· Meaning: To attack someone or something physically or verbally. (आलोचना करना या हमला करना)
· Example: The coach laid into the players for their poor performance.
· Why incorrect: It refers to criticism or assault, which doesn’t fit the context of Darwin’s work.
2. Laid about:
· Meaning: To attack people indiscriminately, especially with a weapon. (चारों तरफ वार करना)
· Example: The knight laid about him with his sword in the battle.
· Why incorrect: This implies physical combat, which is irrelevant to the sentence.
3. Laid away:
· Meaning: To save something for future use. (भविष्य के लिए बचाकर रखना)
· Example: She laid away some money for her child’s education.
· Why incorrect: This refers to storing something, which doesn’t match the idea of presenting evidence.
4. Laid out:
· Meaning: To organize or arrange something clearly or in detail. (सुनियोजित रूप से प्रस्तुत करना)
· Example: The architect laid out the plan for the new building.
· Why correct: In the context, Darwin "laid out" his evidence systematically in his book.