Question

read the passage from sugar changed the world. underneath the clash over rights, laws, and work rules, there was a deeper truth that the planters were sensing: the age of sugar was ending. on the one hand, the work on the plantations was now guided by a web of laws and rules that even an indian coolie like bechu could use to challenge the owners. workers were individuals, not property. on the other hand, world sugar prices were plummeting. owners no longer had the economic clout of being a kingpin of the economy. instead, smaller plantations were going bankrupt. the old ways were simply not working anymore. why were sugar prices falling? because of competition from another part of the world. 45 the evidence in this passage could best be described as empirical evidence showing that sugar prices were plummeting all over the world. logical evidence showing that sugar farming was changing because of laws and low prices. ethical evidence showing that the drop in sugar prices was forcing smaller plantations to go bankrupt. anecdotal evidence showing that smaller plantations were losing money and going bankrupt.

Explanation:

To determine the type of evidence, we analyze each option:

• Empirical evidence is based on observation/measurement. The passage states "world sugar prices were plummeting" (a measurable, observable trend) and explains how this affected plantations (smaller ones going bankrupt). This matches empirical evidence (observation of real - world economic/price trends and their effects).
• Logical evidence would involve reasoning from premises (e.g., laws → sugar farming change), but the passage focuses on observed price drops and business outcomes, not logical deduction from laws.
• Ethical evidence relates to moral principles, which is not the focus here (the passage is about economic/business impacts, not ethics).
• Anecdotal evidence is personal stories/testimonials, but the passage describes a widespread trend (world sugar prices, many smaller plantations) rather than individual anecdotes.

Answer:

A. empirical evidence showing that sugar prices were plummeting all over the world.