Question

The primary purpose of the passage is to:

• A. explain why women reformers of the Progressive Era failed to achieve their goals
• B. discuss the origins of child labor laws in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
• C. compare the living conditions of working-class and middle-class women in the Progressive Era
• D. discuss an oversight on the part of women reformers of the Progressive Era
• E. revise a traditional view of the role played by women reformers in enacting Progressive Era reforms
• A. Some working-class mothers’ resistance to the enforcement of child labor laws
• B. Reformers’ belief that child labor and industrial home work should be abolished
• C. Reformers’ opinions about how working-class families raised their children
• D. Certain women historians’ observation that there was a lack of consensus between women of different classes on the issue of child labor and industrial home work
• J. Working-class families’ fears about the adverse consequences that child labor laws would have on their ability to earn an adequate living
• A. provide support for an assertion made in the preceding sentence (lines 10–12)
• B. raise a question that is answered in the last sentence of the passage (lines 27–32)
• C. introduce an opinion that challenges a statement made in the first sentence of the passage
• D. offer an alternative view to the one attributed in the passage to working-class mothers
• O. point out a contradiction inherent in the traditional view of child labor reforms as it is presented in the passage
• A. Reformers’ belief that industrial home work was preferable to child labor outside the home
• B. Reformers’ belief that child labor laws should pertain to working conditions but not to pay
• C. Working-class mothers’ resentment at reformers’ attempts to interfere with their parenting
• D. Working-class mothers’ belief that child labor was an inhumane practice
• T. Working-class families’ need for every employable member of their families to earn money
• A. They alienated working-class mothers by attempting to enlist them in agitating for progressive causes.
• B. They underestimated the prevalence of child labor among the working classes.
• C. They were correct in their conviction that child labor was deplorable but shortsighted about the impact of child labor legislation on working-class families.
• D. They were aggressive in their attempts to enforce child labor legislation, but were unable to prevent working-class families from circumventing them.
• Y. They were prevented by their nearly total disenfranchisement from making significant progress in child labor reform.
• A. gaining the right to vote in school elections
• B. mobilizing working-class women in the fight against child labor
• C. uniting women of different classes in grassroots activism
• D. improving the economic conditions of working-class families
• ^. improving women’s and children’s working conditions

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the passage's purpose.
The passage critiques the understanding of child labor laws by women reformers of the Progressive Era, particularly pointing out their failure to recognize the economic needs of working-class families. It addresses how these women reformers overlooked the resistance of working-class mothers to child labor laws due to their financial situations.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) The passage does not focus on the reasons why reformers failed, but on an oversight in their understanding of the issue.
- (B) The origins of child labor laws are not the central focus; the passage is more concerned with the reformers' approach to those laws.
- (C) The passage does not compare the living conditions of working-class and middle-class women, but rather discusses their differing views on child labor.
- (D) This is the correct answer. The passage highlights an oversight by reformers, specifically their lack of understanding of the economic situation of working-class families.
- (E) While it does discuss the role of women reformers, it does not revise a traditional view, but rather critiques a specific aspect of their approach.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (D), as it directly reflects the main point of the passage.

Answer 2

Step 1: Understanding the context.
Line 17 introduces the observation by women historians that there was no agreement between middle-class reformers and working-class mothers regarding the child labor laws, highlighting the differing perspectives on the issue.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) This is not the view mentioned in line 17. The passage discusses resistance to child labor laws but in the context of differing class perspectives.
- (B) This is not the view mentioned in line 17, as the passage discusses a disagreement between different classes, not just reformers’ beliefs.
- (C) This is incorrect because the passage is concerned with different classes' views, not just reformers’ opinions.
- (D) This is the correct answer. It reflects the observation of certain women historians that there was a lack of consensus between working-class and middle-class women regarding child labor.
- (E) While working-class families' concerns are discussed, the focus in line 17 is on the disagreement between classes, not the economic fears.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (D), as it matches the view presented by women historians in the passage.

Answer 3

Step 1: Understanding the context.
The observations made by women historians highlight a contradiction in the traditional view of child labor reform, specifically the assumption that all women reformers were in agreement about the issues involved. The passage uses this observation to point out the tension between working-class and middle-class perspectives.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) The mention of women historians supports the idea that the reformers misunderstood the economic realities of working-class families, but the focus is on challenging the traditional view, not supporting an assertion.
- (B) The women historians' observations do not raise a question but instead introduce a view that challenges the traditional perspective.
- (C) The observations of women historians do not challenge a specific statement in the first sentence, but rather address the overall issue of class disagreement.
- (D) The observations are not aimed at offering an alternative view to the one attributed to working-class mothers, but at critiquing the overall reformist perspective.
- (E) This is the correct answer. The women historians’ observations point out the contradiction in the traditional view that child labor reforms were universally supported by women reformers.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (E), as it reflects the passage’s critique of the traditional view of child labor reforms.

Answer 4

Step 1: Understanding the context.
The passage emphasizes that working-class families, facing financial struggles, relied on the wages of all family members, including children, to survive. This need for income is a key factor in their opposition to child labor laws, which reformers did not fully account for.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) While reformers may have had beliefs about industrial home work, this is not the central reason for the differing opinions on child labor.
- (B) The passage focuses on the need for income, not just on working conditions or pay.
- (C) While there may have been resentment, the passage emphasizes the economic need of families over personal resentment.
- (D) The belief that child labor was inhumane does not address the financial aspect of working-class families’ opposition.
- (E) This is the correct answer. The passage highlights that working-class families needed every member to earn money, which led to their opposition to child labor laws.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (E), as it best reflects the economic realities faced by working-class families.

Answer 5

Step 1: Understanding the context.
The author argues that although the reformers were right about the inhumanity of child labor, they failed to consider the economic realities of working-class families, leading to an unintended negative impact on those families.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) While reformers may have alienated working-class mothers, the focus is on their failure to understand the economic situation.
- (B) The passage does not emphasize that reformers underestimated child labor but rather focused on their misunderstanding of its economic consequences.
- (C) This is the correct answer. The passage asserts that while reformers were correct about the exploitation of child labor, they did not consider the economic needs of working-class families.
- (D) While the passage mentions efforts to enforce laws, it is not the primary focus of the passage, which is on the economic misunderstanding.
- (E) The passage does not focus on the reformers' disenfranchisement, but on their failure to understand the broader implications of their actions.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (C), as it captures the author’s critique of the reformers' narrow focus on child labor without considering its economic impact.

Answer 6

Step 1: Understanding the context.
The passage discusses the successes of middle-class women reformers, particularly in improving working conditions for women and children during the Progressive Era.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) Gaining the right to vote is not mentioned as a striking achievement in the passage.
- (B) While working-class women were involved in the fight against child labor, the passage highlights the focus on improving working conditions, not just mobilizing women.
- (C) The passage does not focus on uniting women of different classes, but rather on the specific improvements made.
- (D) The passage does not focus on improving economic conditions directly, but on working conditions.
- (E) This is the correct answer, as the passage highlights the reformers’ efforts to improve working conditions for women and children, which was a significant achievement.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (E), as it reflects the main achievements of women reformers during the Progressive Era as described in the passage.