Question

Which of the following statements is most strongly supported by the passage below (paragraph 7)?

Cash crops such as tobacco and sugar became essential to colonial economies. Over time, plantations grew larger and the demand for labor heavily increased. The rush to mine these new colonies spurred a widespread slave trade that brought many enslaved Africans to the Americas and was both extremely profitable and inhumane.
Answer choices for the above question

A. The need for labor was one of the driving influences of slavery.

B. Many enslaved Africans did not survive the voyage from Africa to the colonies.

C. Tobacco and sugar were farmed only in the colonies.

D. Colonists valued hard work more than other cultures did.

Answer 1

The statement most strongly supported by the passage in paragraph 7 is:

A. The need for labor was one of the driving influences of slavery.

The paragraph highlights how the demand for labor increased significantly due to the growth of plantations, which in turn drove the widespread slave trade to fulfill this demand. This suggests that the need for labor was a key factor contributing to the institution of slavery during that time.