Which statement is true?

• A. Tin plate was produced on a large scale in the United States in 1878.
• B. In 1884, William Dunn and Alfred Bowers stamped the first metal airplane wing.
• C. In colonial America, a master was required to provide food, lodging, clothing, and wages to the apprentice.
• D. In the 1980s, sheet-metal workers' knowledge of plumbing systems allowed them to move into indoor-air quality (IAQ) technician positions.

Answer: (A)

Tin plate being produced on a large scale in the United States by 1878 reflects a major shift in the metal trades toward mass production of coated steel for cans and other tinplate products. Advances in rolling mills and the growing demand for preserved foods spurred the scale-up, making tinplate more affordable and widely used. This milestone helped shape the development of sheet-metal fabrication and related industries, influencing jobs, processes, and shop practices for years to come. The other statements don’t fit the historical timeline or standard apprenticeship and industry patterns: stamping the first metal airplane wing in 1884 isn’t supported by aviation history, which relied on wood and fabric constructions well into the early 1900s before metal wings became common; in colonial America, apprentices typically received room and board as part of their training, but wages were not a universal requirement; and the idea that sheet-metal workers moved into IAQ technician roles in the 1980s because of plumbing knowledge doesn’t align with how IAQ professions evolved, which developed more fully after that period.