Final answer:
The most likely reason for Lewis Hallam's return to England was due to hostilities from religious groups, which were common challenges for acting troupes at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lewis Hallam's acting troupe, which came to Virginia in 1752, had to navigate various challenges during the time. Although the provided background information doesn't directly state why Hallam returned to England, based on historical context regarding English theatre and its intersections with societal and political elements, we can infer some possibilities. The period was marked by a decline in theater popularity post-Shakespeare and the closure of theatres during the First Civil War, under Oliver Cromwell's Puritan regime.
Given this historical context, it would seem reasonable that religious hostilities might have influenced Hallam's return to England, as they were a common obstacle for acting troupes. At that time, theater was often associated with moral corruption or opposed by religious groups. Therefore, the answer to the student's question is most likely option C: The troupe encountered hostilities from religious groups.