Final answer:
The eugenics movement was most likely to encourage selective breeding of highly intelligent people, as it aimed to control reproduction to improve genetic traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The eugenics movement would have been most likely to encourage selective breeding of highly intelligent people. This option aligns with the eugenics movement's goal of improving the genetic makeup of the human race. Eugenics, a pseudoscientific field, was based on the idea that human evolution could be enhanced by manipulating reproduction to increase the prevalence of desirable hereditary traits and reduce undesirable traits.
The historical context of eugenics includes the forcible sterilization of those considered 'unfit' and the promotion of childbearing among 'desirable' individuals. As such, eugenics sought to control who was allowed to reproduce based on certain characteristics, such as intelligence, physical ability, and race, which is reflected in the practice of selective breeding. Although there has been significant debate and criticism of eugenics, especially due to its historical associations with racism, xenophobia, and its misuse by regimes like Nazi Germany, the drive for selective breeding of traits perceived as superior was a defining element of the movement.