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?
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 each option:

• Option A: The text emphasizes more than just stable wages (e.g., social commentary, Black theatre units), so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The project had free shows for audiences and diverse offerings, so it wasn't just avant - garde and inaccessible, eliminating B.
• Option C: The project's official mandate was employment relief, but it also did cultural (e.g., various plays, early work of artists) and social (commented on social/economic problems, Black theatre units) work. This fits.
• Option D: The project was part of WPA, aimed at employment during Depression; there's no info Congress designed it for social inequality, so D is wrong.

Answer:

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