Question

Survivors of the Salem Witch Trials-as well as the families

and descendants of the deceased-petitioned for reparations
and pardons, and in some cases were only exonerated
hundreds of years after the fact. Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.,
however, was never vindicated, perhaps because she had no
children and therefore no direct descendants.
Which phrase from the passage helps you understand the meaning
of the word vindicated?
A. direct descendants
B. hundreds of years
C. were only exonerated
D. petitioned for

Answer 1

Vindicated means to clear someone from blame or suspicion.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given passage, the phrase that helps understand the meaning of the word 'vindicated' is 'were only exonerated.'

Vindicated means to clear someone from blame or suspicion, and being exonerated accomplishes the same objective. Since Elizabeth Johnson, Jr. was never exonerated, it suggests that she was never cleared or vindicated of the charges related to the Salem Witch Trials. In the context of the passage, her lack of direct descendants may have contributed to her never receiving exoneration.

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