Question

in the debate over the standard of living during the british industrial revolution, \optimist\ historians often emphasize the rise in real wages for adult male laborers as evidence of general prosperity. economic historian jane humphries, however, contends that this metric is deceptive because it obscures a concurrent structural shift: the consolidation of the \male breadwinner\ model. as industrialization advanced, women and children were increasingly excluded from formal factory employment or relegated to poorly paid informal work. humphries demonstrates that while the male head - of - households earnings may have increased, this gain was frequently offset by the loss of the wifes and childrens contributions, resulting in a stagnation or decline in total household income.
8 mark for review
which choice best states the main idea of the text?
(answer : c)
a it presents a counterargument to the \optimist\ view by positing that increases in male wages do not accurately reflect household standards of living since male workers may have lost income from other sources.
it suggests that the \optimist\ reliance on male wage data is flawed because it underestimates the significant financial contributions women and children continued to make in the informal sector.
it argues that a commonly cited metric for measuring prosperity during the industrial revolution may obscure a more complex economic reality for households.
it demonstrates that the industrial revolution ultimately improved the standard of living for male laborers but had a detrimental effect on the economic independence of women and children.

Explanation:

The text discusses the debate on the standard of living during the British Industrial Revolution. "Optimist" historians use male real wage rise as prosperity evidence, but Humphries argues this metric is deceptive. It ignores the structural shift where women and children were excluded from formal work or in poorly paid informal work. So the male wage increase was offset by loss of women’s and children’s contributions, leading to stagnant or declining total household income. Option C says a commonly cited metric (male wage rise) for prosperity may obscure a more complex economic reality for households, which matches the text’s main idea. Option A focuses on male workers losing other income sources, which isn't the main point. Option B emphasizes underestimating women’s and children’s informal contributions, but the text is about total household income stagnation/decline due to their lost contributions, not underestimating. Option D says the Industrial Revolution improved male laborers’ standard of living, but the text shows total household income didn't improve, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. It argues that a commonly cited metric for measuring prosperity during the Industrial Revolution may obscure a more complex economic reality for households.