Question

newspaper article excerpt
newspaper article excerpt
new york times (1874)
entering the narrow hall, the olfactories sense of smell are at once startled by a pungent odor, so strong in some instances as to make a sensitive person sneeze “on sight,” or rather “on smell.”
this is, of course, the tobacco. … it was said that in cold weather the odor was so overpowering and pungent, doors and windows being closed, that persons unaccustomed thereto were compelled to shut their eyes in pain. yet about 4,000 people eat, cook and sleep, as well as work, in these places. young children fall asleep from the narcotic effects of the pervading odor. women suffer greatly from it.
muckrakers used descriptions like this mainly to bring about which of the following?
a the overthrow of the government
b improved social conditions
c greater individual responsibility
d a return to pre - industrial life

Explanation:

Muckrakers were journalists who exposed social ills and poor living/working conditions in the Progressive Era. This excerpt details an oppressive, unhealthy environment, which aligns with their goal of sparking reform to improve such negative social conditions. The other options do not match their core mission: they did not aim to overthrow the government, focus on individual responsibility as a primary goal, or push for a return to pre-industrial life.

Answer:

B. improved social conditions