Question

the people quickly lapsed into their old indifference as to aiding an executive which used such base means of governing. source: donahoes magazine, volume xv, no. 3 volume xv (jan 1886 - jul 1886) in this sentence, lapsed means: walked unsteadily or unevenly worked as quickly as possible toward a goal progressed or grew through a process of evolution went back to bad behavior

Explanation:

In the context, people returned to their previous state of indifference (a form of bad - behavior in terms of not helping an executive with base means of governing). "Lapsed" here implies a reversion to a previous, often negative state.

Answer:

D. went back to bad behavior