Question

Read this paragraph from The Dark Game.

It may seem surprising that no Confederate sympathizers took action against Van Lew, given her strong and public views on secession and slavery. Surely there were suspicions, especially among her upper-crust neighbors, but the matter never went beyond those suspicions. Historians have suggested that the secessionists were victims of their own cultural bias, believing that no aristocratic person, and certainly not a lady, would ever consider taking part in anything as impolite as spying. A true lady managed her servants, prepared parties and gatherings, and blindly supported her husband. Such attitudes worked in Van Lew's favor, diverting suspicion from her.

What central idea is implied in this paragraph?

Elizabeth Van Lew did not follow the rules society set forth for ladies of her time and social class.
Elizabeth Van Lew was a successful spy because society did not expect a lady to serve in that role.
Elizabeth Van Lew was able to disguise her spying activities because she kept her views about the war to herself.
Elizabeth Van Lew created for herself an untrue but believable cover story: she was a wealthy lady living in a fancy neighborhood.

Answer 1

The answer is B, Elizabeth Van Lew was a successful spy because society did not expect a lady to serve in that role.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage states that Elizabeth Van Lew was suspicious, but the matter never went beyond those suspicions. There was a bias among people that men were better spies and that women should blindly support their husbands, arrange parties, take care of a family, etc...

She was sucessful because society didn't expect a woman to take that role.