Question

here was a population, low - class and mostly foreign, hanging always on the verge of starvation, and dependent for its opportunities of life upon the whim of men every bit as brutal and unscrupulous as the old - time slave drivers; under such circumstances, immorality was exactly as inevitable, and as prevalent, as it was under the system of chattel slavery. questions: 1. what problem is being described? 2. what reform was sinclair hoping to inspire? station 2: jacob riis, how the other half lives (1890) excerpt: “the tenements today are new york’s most distinctively characteristic contribution to the development of the great modern city.... the airshaft seems always so small and mean between the dingy walls, so foul with the odors of a thousand kitchens, that the sunlight itself appears tainted.” questions: 1. what problem is being described? 2. what reform was riis hoping to inspire?

Explanation:

For the first - passage: It describes the plight of a low - class, mostly foreign population living in harsh conditions with immoralities due to exploitation similar to chattel slavery. For the second - passage by Riis, it depicts the poor living conditions in New York tenements with small air - shafts and foul odors.
For the first passage, Sinclair likely hoped for social and economic reforms to improve the lives of the oppressed. For Riis, he likely hoped for housing reforms to improve tenement living conditions.

Answer:

1. First passage: The problem is the harsh living and working conditions of a low - class, mostly foreign population facing exploitation and immorality. Second passage: The problem is the poor and unsanitary living conditions in New York tenements.
2. First passage: Social and economic reforms for the oppressed population. Second passage: Housing reforms to improve tenement conditions.