Question

created in 1935 as part of the works progress administration, the federal theatre project, directed by educator and playwright hallie flanagan, aimed to employ out - of - work theatre professionals during the great depression. over four years it hired about 10,000 people and mounted about 1,000 productions in 40 states, often free to audiences. offerings ranged from puppet shows and children’s plays to documentary \living newspaper\ theatre that commented on social and economic problems; the project also established black theatre units and featured early work by orson welles and john houseman. these programming choices suggest that flanagan likely understood the project as ______
which choice most logically completes the text?
(answer : c)
a a jobs program whose most significant contribution to american theatre was providing stable wages to performers
b a venue primarily for avant - garde theatrical experimentation rather than performances accessible to general audiences
c an opportunity to pursue cultural and social goals beyond its official employment - relief mandate
d an initiative that congress had designed to address social inequality through theatre, not merely to provide jobs

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the text: The Federal Theatre Project was created for employment relief (official mandate) but also did cultural/social work (e.g., "Living Newspaper" commenting on issues, Black theatre units, featuring early work). Option C says it's an opportunity to pursue cultural/social goals beyond employment - relief, which matches. Option A focuses only on wages (not the other aspects). Option B says it's avant - garde and not accessible, but the text says shows were free and for all (like puppet shows, children's plays), so B is wrong. Option D says Congress designed it for social inequality, but the text says it was part of WPA for employment, so D misrepresents the design.

Answer:

C. an opportunity to pursue cultural and social goals beyond its official employment - relief mandate