Question

The following passage describes the bathing habits of people in 19th-century England. Select the best evidence to support the statement "bathwater was a shared resource in 19th-century

homes." There may be more than one correct choice.
In the early part of the nineteenth century, you would have been well advised to stand upwind of anyone with whom you were having a conversation.
Only the hands, neck and arms were frequently washed....The poor must have bathed infrequently at best. The middle class, although they apparently washed their hands and feet daily usually made do in

Answer 1

Based on the image provided, the following portions of the text suggest that bathwater was a shared resource in 19th-century homes:

1. "The middle class... usually made do in the 1860s with one big bath on Sunday night, in which the whole household 'took part'..."

This explicitly states that the entire household participated in one big bath, which clearly indicates that the bathwater was shared among the members of the household.

2. "And at Mrs. Browning’s Academy in Blackheath for young ladies a weekly bath was, charged as an extra."

While this part doesn't directly state that the water was shared, charging extra for a weekly bath suggests that it was not a common practice for each individual to have their own fresh bathwater. This could imply that when a bath was taken without the extra charge, sharing might have occurred to reduce costs.

These portions of the text should be cited as evidence to support the statement about bathwater being a shared resource in 19th-century homes.

complete question given below

Answer 2

The evidence suggests that bathwater was shared, as implied by the use of communal facilities and limited resources in the middle and working classes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best evidence to support the statement "bathwater was a shared resource in 19th-century homes" comes from various parts of the passage. Firstly, the middle class are described as having to make do when it came to bathing habits, implying that resources such as water were limited enough that they had to share. Moreover, we learn that towards the end of the century, communal facilities such as water taps in the streets, shared hallway sinks, and communal toilets became available, which indicates that facilities, including bathwater, were indeed shared among the working class who could not afford private amenities. Lastly, the reference to housing perfection with shared community bathrooms suggests that even personal hygiene was conducted in a shared space, further confirming the shared nature of resources like bathwater.