Answer:
The correct answer is indeed C: essay tests
Step-by-step explanation:
This is because, the purpose of an essay is precisely, that; to expose a specific topic, to use data to support said topic, and through argumentation, debate and discussion, allow the topic to be resolved either in favor of a specific position on it, or another. In contrast, compare and contrast writings do not necessarily seek to expose a specific topic for argumentation, but rather, as the name suggests, seek to place two or more topics in confrontation to see the differences and similarities between them, and short answer tests are simply to give a short and simple answer to a pretty clear but open question on a topic.