Which quotation from the excerpt presents a counterclaim to the idea that the invention of the telephone was a triumphant event? The story of the telephone's invention in 1876 is one of hard work, determination, and triumph. After all, it has a terrific happy ending in which the hero, Alexander Graham Bell, uses his astonishing new device to transmit the words "Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you." However, the true story of how the telephone came to be is not quite as happy as most imagine. In fact, it is not a tale of triumph at all, but one of tragedy. What's more, the first words ever spoken over a wire could not possibly have been uttered by Alexander Graham Bell, because he was only two years old at the time.

c: However, the true story of how the telephone came to be is not quite as happy as most imagine. In fact, it is not a tale of triumph at all, but one of tragedy.

Explanation:

A counterclaim is a claim that is presented as a rebuttal or counter-argument for the claim made or proposed. It presents an opposing force/ opinion for the claim that's been made.

In the given argument about the invention of the telephone, the speaker/ author presents a claim that this major invention was a triumphant event in the history of mankind. And for this claim to be counter-argued, the quotation that this discovery "is not a tale of triumph at all, but one of tragedy" best presents the counterclaim.  This is in direct contrast with the "triumphant" claim, with the counterclaim that "it is [rather] one of tragedy."

Therefore, the correct answer is option c.