Question

read the excerpt from the time travelers guide to elizabethan england. these the miracle plays go out of favor when the privy council decrees that they are too close to catholicism and should stop. those at york cease in 1569. in chester the citizens defy the privy council and continue performing their play about noahs flood well into the 1570s. the coventry mystery plays are finally suppressed in 1579, so this is the town to visit if you want to catch one later in the reign. the guary miracle play in cornwall continues for some years but is so amateurish it can hardly be seen as a threat. which event happened second? the plays being performed in york ceased. the council declared that the miracle plays should stop. the coventry mystery plays were finally suppressed. the guary miracle play in cornwall ended.

Explanation:

1. First, analyze the sequence of events:

• The council declared the miracle plays should stop (this is the trigger event).
• Then, the plays in York ceased in 1569.
• The Chester plays continued into the 1570s.
• The Coventry mystery plays were suppressed in 1579.
• The Guary miracle play in Cornwall ended later (but we are looking for the second event).

1. After the council's decree, the next event is the plays in York ceasing in 1569. Then comes the suppression of Coventry in 1579, and the Guary play ending later. So the second event among the options is the plays being performed in York ceased? Wait, no, let's re - check. Wait, the council's decree is the first (the cause), then York ceases in 1569, then Coventry in 1579, and Guary later. Wait, the options:

• Option 1: York plays ceased (1569)
• Option 2: Council decree (the first, cause)
• Option 3: Coventry suppressed (1579)
• Option 4: Guary play ended (later than 1579 maybe)

Wait, the question is which event happened second. So the order is:

1. Council declares miracle plays should stop (the decree).
2. York plays ceased (1569).
3. Coventry mystery plays suppressed (1579).
4. Guary miracle play in Cornwall ended (after 1579).

So the second event is the plays being performed in York ceased? Wait, no, the council's decree is the first event (the action that starts the sequence). Then the York plays cease (1569), then Coventry (1579), then Guary. So among the options, the second event is the plays being performed in York ceased? Wait, no, let's check the options again. The options are:

• The plays being performed in York ceased.
• The council declared that the miracle plays should stop.
• The Coventry mystery plays were finally suppressed.
• The Guary miracle play in Cornwall ended.

The council's declaration is the first event (the initiating action). Then the York plays ceased (1569) is the second event. Then Coventry in 1579 (third), and Guary later (fourth). So the second event is the plays being performed in York ceased. But wait, maybe I made a mistake. Wait, the council's decree is the first (the decision), then York ceases (1569), then Coventry (1579), then Guary. So the second event is the York plays ceasing.

Answer:

A. The plays being performed in York ceased.