Context: Eclectic readings also normally give an impression of the number of witnesses to each available reading. Although a reading supported by the majority of witnesses is frequently preferred, this does not follow automatically. For example, a second edition of a Shakespeare play may include an addition alluding to an event known to have happened between the two editions. Although nearly all subsequent manuscripts may have included the addition, textual critics may reconstruct the original without the addition.

Question: What is often included in an eclectic reading?
Answer: an impression of the number of witnesses

Question: Why would someone prefer a second edition to a first edition?
Answer: a second edition of a Shakespeare play may include an addition alluding to an event known to have happened between the two editions

Question: Do textual critics always include additions found in the majority of subsequent versions of a work?
Answer: textual critics may reconstruct the original without the addition.

Question: What do eclectic readings not do?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: Why do people prefer a first edition Shakespeare play?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: Which edition did not include an addition alluding to an event?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: Textual critics may reconstruct the last edition of a work without what?
Answer: Unanswerable