The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. The correct answer is (A) Alexander Graham Bell. Bell is widely recognized for his pioneering work in the development of the telephone, and he received the first US patent for the invention of the telephone in 1876.

The river that is often referred to as the "lifeline of European trade" is (B) Rhine. The Rhine River is a major waterway in Europe that flows through several countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It plays a crucial role in the transportation of goods and is an important trade route, earning it the designation as the "lifeline of European trade."