Lesson 2, HW, Reading Comp. Passage 12, #27

[ellenb]

Dear Powerscore,

For this passage I got most of them right except a couple. For question #27, please let me know, why B is wrong and why C is the right answer?

Thanks

Ellen

[Jacques Lamothe]

Hi Ellen,

Answer choice (C) describes the position defended by Drescher that is discussed in the second paragraph of the passage. Drescher claimed that slavery was abolished in England because of longstanding traditions that valued liberty. Eltis is described as attacking that view in the first few sentences of paragraph 3, so it is our correct answer.

Answer (B) can seem tempting because Eltis does reference economic motivations behind abolish slavery. However, in line 59, the passage characterizes Eltis as rejecting William's view (mentioned in the first paragraph) that the colony economies were not economically viable. While the passage does not go into much depth about it, Eltis appears to accept rather than argue against the claim that colonies that employed forced labor were still economically viable in the nineteenth century. That lets us exclude answer choice (B) as a possible answer.

I hope that helps!

Jacques