Question

in passage 2, what does blanc mean in the last paragraph, on pages 3–4, when he compares cheapness to a hammer? the labor of underpaid workers is used to build up the wealth of the business owners. the construction of large factories attracts workers to leave home for unskilled jobs at low pay. the promise of low prices is used to justify a system that destroys small businesses. the development of new technology makes manufacturing too expensive for small producers.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the metaphor of "cheapness as a hammer". A hammer is a tool to build or destroy. The option about justifying a system (low prices justifying a system that destroys small businesses) fits: low prices (cheapness) act as a hammer to destroy small businesses. Other options: first is about worker pay vs owner wealth (not about cheapness as hammer), second is about factory construction and worker migration (not about cheapness), fourth is about tech making manufacturing expensive (opposite of cheapness). So the correct option is the one about low prices justifying a system destroying small businesses.

Answer:

The promise of low prices is used to justify a system that destroys small businesses.