Final answer:
The Reform Act of 1832 was passed due to pressure from the middle class and fears of revolution, leading to expanded electorate for the middle class and laying the groundwork for later reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why the British Parliament Passed the Reform Act of 1832
The British Parliament passed the Reform Act of 1832 primarily due to the pressure from the middle class and the threat of revolutionary action. Prior to the Act, the British political system was highly undemocratic, with a large majority of the population disenfranchised and the electoral districts poorly representing the population. Notable changes brought by the Act included the expansion of the electorate to include a significant portion of the urban middle class, the elimination of 'rotten boroughs,' and paving the way for subsequent social and political reforms. This reform occurred within a context of fear among the aristocracy that without concessions, they could face a revolution akin to those happening on the continent.
Given the available choices, the correct answer to the student's question is b) Parliament was facing pressure from workers for equal representation in government. Although the Reform Act of 1832 expanded voter eligibility significantly, it was mainly the middle class who benefited, not the working class or the masses. The working class would gain more substantial voting rights only later, with the Reform Bill of 1867 and subsequent reforms.